Chinese New Year of the Dragon

23-January-2012

The Chinese New Year begins this week on the first day of the year with a new moon. This year, the first new moon falls on Monday 23rd January, 2012, and the celebration will last 15 days.

Federal Member for Aston, Alan Tudge MP, congratulated the Australian Chinese community in the occasion of the lunar New Year. He said, “It is the year of the Dragon which is a very special year for the Chinese as the dragon is a symbol of power, strength, and good luck”.

“Chinese New Year is the most important traditional Chinese holiday. People from not only China, but also Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Macau, celebrate the lunar New Year. In Knox alone, over 8,000 people will celebrate the Chinese New Year, and 5.6 percent of the population in Knox speak Cantonese or Mandarin at home,” Mr Tudge said.

Mr Tudge will celebrate the Year of the Dragon at a special celebratory luncheon with the Knox Chinese Elderly Citizens Club in Wantirna.