Year of the Monkey: San Diego Chinese New Year

This month San Diego kicks off the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Monkey with its 34th Annual 2016 San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair celebration. Unlike traditional "Western" Zodiac astrology, which represents each of the 12 months by a different sign from the stars, the Chinese lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and lunar astrology represents each year of a rotating 12 year cycle with one of 12 different animals. The common belief is that people demonstrate characteristics of the animal under whose sign they are born.

Sponsored by the San Diego Chinese Center and 50 other organizations, the 34th Annual 2016 San Diego Chinese

New Year Food and Cultural Fair is scheduled for Saturday, February 13th and Sunday February 14th from 10 am to 5 pm, rain or shine, in the Asian Pacific thematic Historic District at Third Avenue and J Street in downtown San Diego.

At this free, family–friendly event, which combines an annual cultural outreach program with a fundraising event to benefit SDCC’s year–round cultural programs and charitable services provided to the community, guests of all ages can enjoy the diverse rich cultural flavors of China while browsing a wide selection of Asian cultural gifts and cuisine in 50 food and commercial booths. The festivities also feature a wide variety of entertainment, including over two dozen performances of Chinese music, dance and qigong.

After the success of last year’s fair, which boasted over 25,000 celebrants, SDCC president Kwong Hui eagerly anticipates this year’s festival. "We are excited to enter our fourth decade of celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in downtown San Diego," Hui says. "In 2016, we again welcome the San Diego community to share our celebration of the Year of the Monkey—a time for family, friendship and giving thanks." Where else in San Diego can one witness lion and dragon dances, continuous live performances on stage with martial arts demonstrations, acrobats, traditional Chinese music performances, folk dances and taiko drumming in one excitement–packed festival?

Last year’s program included a Sock Hop sponsored by the Chinese Community Church, cash drawing giveaways and an opportunity drawing for valuable prizes. Other performances on last year’s slate of entertainment goodies included: Asian Story Theater; Chinese Dance Association; Indie Pop Rocker Ivan Cheong; singer/songwriter Kenny Eng; Lijun String Ensemble; and Guang Dong TV American singing contest winner Charisma Lam, along with her musical brothers Ivan Wong and Kenson Situ.

According to SDCC entertainment chair Mack Lorden, this year’s schedule will be filled with even more exciting events. Artists include the Lucky Lion Dance troupe, Asian Story Theatre, Southern Sea Lion Dancers, Chinese Dance Association and Lijun String Ensemble. The Lucky Lion Dancers and Southern Sea Lion Dance Association’s lion dances received especially high marks from attendees at last year’s festival.

Children can enjoy special festival activities created just for them. In addition to being invited to participate in creating masks in the Children’s Craft Area, they can march in the daily Lantern Parade, where little ones, who are encouraged to dress in Chinese apparel, have the unique opportunity to walk beside Chinese lions and a 25–foot dragon consisting of 11 people. In Chinese culture, the dragon symbolizes good luck, power, wisdom and other auspicious attributes.

Once the initial celebrations have taken place, entertainment carries on throughout the year as lion and dragon dance troupes from Chinese martial schools or guilds visit Chinese community homes and shops to perform the traditional "plucking of the greens" (cai ching) dance at celebrations such as birthdays, weddings and business opening events.

Originally created over 30 years ago, the SDCC sought to establish a "Chinese Social Service Center" to provide services to seniors and new immigrants. Now based in the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association’s historic landmark building, SDCC has broadened its mission to include its now–expanded goals.

Among the Center’s goals is the desire to promote Chinese culture and to enrich cultural awareness throughout the community, through collaborations with other organizations and careful and efficient use of the financial resources available to them. In addition to its mission of providing cultural programs and charitable services for the community at large, SDCC offers social services for needy Chinese seniors, children and families. Each year the Chinese Cultural Fair also sponsors a scholarship for a deserving student.

Included among the festival’s sponsors are the City of San Diego Arts & Culture Commission, Sempra Energy, San Diego Union–Tribune, Barona Casino, Harrah’s Resort and Families with Children from China.

For those who have a love of Chinese culture and a desire to give back to the community, the event is still looking for volunteers to help out. Contact SDCC Special Projects Manager Linh Du (619–540–8501 or linhpdu@gmail.com.)

Details of the festival, including a fair map, information about the artists, an events and activities schedule and information about the diverse cuisine available, can be found at San Diego Chinese Center.