Lexington, Mass., Jan. 21, 2015, — The Chinese American Association of Lexington (CAAL), Cary Memorial Library, and the town of Lexington, are sponsoring a free Chinese New Year Festival this year, and you’re invited! This year’s event, to be held on Saturday, January 24th, promises to be both special and spectacular. The Festival is so full of activities for all ages and interests that it had to be split into two parts! Experience a multi-sensory Chinese Culture Fair at Cary Memorial Library in the afternoon, from 1:00pm to 3:45pm. Spectacular performances will be on stage at Lexington High School in the evening.
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Witness an artistic Chinese calligraphy demonstration, an interactive Chinese musical instrument exhibition, and try your skill in creating traditional Arts & Crafts. Get your phonetic Chinese name beautifully written on a souvenir bookmark. Join a festive parade to cheer as a lively and colorful dragon rhythmically roars through the library!
What’s a festival without food, one of the most important elements of any Chinese New Year celebration? Attend the festival and you’ll have a chance to sample traditional New Year snacks and goodies. Learn why these are favorites and some Chinese New Year rituals and “superstitions” that help assure good luck and good fortune in the New Year!
The CAAL Chinese New Year Festival continues later in the day, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, with a wide range of entertaining and beautiful performances on stage at the Lexington High School auditorium. Guests will be treated to a thunderous lion dance, followed by displays of traditional Chinese song and dance, martial arts, musical instruments, a calligraphy demonstration, and a mesmerizing display of Chinese yo-yo. And that’s not all! If you’ve never witnessed Beijing Opera or a magical act that’s an amazing change-of-face, this is your chance! Also, for a special Lexington “East-Meets-West” twist, our very own Lexington High School Chorus will perform traditional Chinese songs in preparation of their upcoming four-city concert tour to China.
Best of all, both events are free of charge for all! Go to Cary Memorial Library for the afternoon culture fair. Seating for the evening performances at LHS begins at 6:30 pm. The snow date for the Culture Fair at Cary Library is Sunday, January 25. Lexington has never celebrated Chinese New Year with a day filled with events highlighting both culture and spectacle like this before. Don’t miss it!
CAAL members at a Lexington 300 event (file photo).
The Chinese zodiac features 12 animals, including the dog, horse, ram, dragon, tiger, monkey, pig, and rooster. Unlike the Western zodiac though, each animal is featured for an entire year, and the cycle repeats every 12 years. In addition to 2015, people born in the years 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, and 2003 are also born in the “Year of the Ram.” People born in “ram” years are believed to share common characteristics, such as creativity, elegance, and compassion. Though they are sometimes thought to be disorganized and insecure, people born in the year of the ram can be charming company. Sound like anyone you know?
Learn which world-famous individuals were born in the year of the ram. Find out which animal represents the year you were born in, and what characteristics YOU are believed to share with others born in your year!
Don’t miss the free CAAL Chinese New Year Festival, with a family-friendly afternoon cultural fair at Cary Memorial Library, and entertaining evening performances at Lexington High School! Tell your friends and join us for a fun-filled Chinese New Year Festival on January 24, 2015!
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