2010 is the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese New Year and Chinese Dragons brought colour and loud firecrackers to the centre of Kilmarnock in great style today!
Fantastic Chinese Dragon!
The Chinese New Year is the most important of the Chinese holidays and is a time of feasting with all members of the family, fireworks and the giving and receiving of various gifts. It is a 15 day holiday beginning on the first day of a new moon (14th February this year) and ending with the full moon on the day of the Lantern Festival (28th February this year) which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.
The actual length of the Chinese New Year celebrations varies from country to country and in China can last for over a month!
But the celebrations in Kilmarnock today were appreciated not only by the local Chinese community, but also by everyone else! The fantastic colours just had to be seen although we did manage to take quite a few photographs as well as the videos.
Glasgow Hong Lok - Dragon and Lion Dancing Team
The day of celebrations started off with a bang at midday at The Cross in Kilmarnock as the huge crowds welcomed in the Year of the Tiger in spectacular style with Chinese entertainment, firecrackers and, of course, Scottish pipers!
Festivities commenced after a formal opening by Provost Stephanie Young and Thomas Ho, Chairperson of the Chinese Association. Firecrackers were set off and the long and colourful procession made its way along Bank Street, Nelson Street, King Street and then returned to the Cross and up to the KULOC Centre (the local Chinese Association) in Portland Street. Chinese drums were beating throughout the whole procession and vibrant colours from traditional Chinese costumes mixed well with the traditional Scottish garments worn by the Pipers.
Special Guests to Celebration Lunch
KULOC Chairperson Thomas Ho invited special guests to a reception at the KULOC Centre which included Leader of the Council, Councillor Douglas Reid, local MP Des Browne and MSPs Willie Coffey and Cathy Jamieson, as well as a representative from the Chinese Consulate in Edinburgh.
The Year of Tiger has certainly kicked off with a very promising start. The tiger is a sign of courage. This fearless, fiery fighter is revered by the Chinese as the sign that wards off the three main disasters of a household: fire, thieves and ghosts.
People born in the Year of the Tiger are generally well-liked because of their charming personalities. Famous Tiger People include Agatha Christie, Demi Moore, Diana Rigg, Hilary Swank, Jodie Foster, Marilyn Monroe, Mary Queen of Scots, Penelope Cruz, Queen Elizabeth II, Tom Cruise and of course URsTV’s very own Moira Heron was also born in the year of the Tiger so perhaps this will be an auspicious year for URsTV as well!
Scotland certainly paves the way to showing how a variety and diversity of cultures can form a wonderful and close-knit community.
East Meets West - A Wonderful Partnership!
As you can see from the videos and pictures everyone had an absolutely fantastic time and the Dragon and Lion Dancing Team from the Glasgow Hong Lok certainly put us all into the festive spirit.
Don’t forget to send us any of your photographs or stories of today’s events and we will post as many on the URsTV site as possible!
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Thanks-a-million Moira for the fantastic pics and video from the celebrations! I wasn't able to get there and I'm sure there's a lot ore people who are sad they missed such a wonderfully, dellightful celebration!
A very Happy New Year to everyone in the Chinese community and Thank-you for sharing such a glorious ceremony!
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