How was Chinese New Year in the US and Canada?

[waichingliu81]

because the one in london that i attended was, well let's just say i was majorly dissapointed. there were no lion or dragon dances, no parades through the city, nothing exciting happened in chinatown. there were just a few little stores and tables set up selling cakes, jewellery etc and lanterns hanging in soho. . considering all the hype it turned out to be a major letdown.

how well did yours go in america and canada?

[Mikado]

Well, here in Welland, they have a little get together in a school Gym with lion dancers and songs , but, they go further in the big city of Toronto (Couldnt make it up there this year), also, they show the ceremonies live from China (on time delay) on the multicultural TV here.

[waichingliu81]

Originally Posted by Mikado

Well, here in Welland, they have a little get together in a school Gym with lion dancers and songs , but, they go further in the big city of Toronto (Couldnt make it up there this year), also, they show the ceremonies live from China (on time delay) on the multicultural TV here.

that sounds cool mikey! here in london, it became something of a joke- first of all, there were no dragon or lion dances, no parades through the city, just little tables set up outside chinatown selling cakes and decorations, jewellery. some shops and restaurants were closed for no apparent reason. in fact, all the celebrations were taking place not in chinatown itself but in trafalgar sqaure- which i thought was stupid. it was practically awful

[Mikado]

Thats too bad, it's an amazing culture and deserves to be displayed better (I would just love to see a real Asian-type fair, with the fish catching booths and sparklers, lanterns, etc)

[TripperFan]

You know, I'm not sure! They usually have a huge thing here in Chinatown, but because of the snowstorms we've been getting it's pretty much shut the city down. I know the local news followed people while they were shopping for the special items for the dinner, but other than that, I didn't see much.

I did go out for lunch yesterday though with a bunch of guys from the office. I was the only white in the bunch - it must have looked funny!

[waichingliu81]

Originally Posted by TripperFan

You know, I'm not sure! They usually have a huge thing here in Chinatown, but because of the snowstorms we've been getting it's pretty much shut the city down. I know the local news followed people while they were shopping for the special items for the dinner, but other than that, I didn't see much.

I did go out for lunch yesterday though with a bunch of guys from the office. I was the only white in the bunch - it must have looked funny!

i saw the pics people posted on flickr of the festival in toronto and i have to say i am impressed. it was reminscent of carnival with the bright colours and plus, the place looked busy. it looked like people were enjoying themselves. from what i saw, a lot of the people in trafalgar sqaure were more interested in getting cheap chinese food and gifts, rather than to get into the spirit of the traditions. therefore, i was unimpressed

[vtunie]

新年快樂 -- I know several people who had the overeaten-overdrunk-very-smug-happy look this week!

[waichingliu81]

Originally Posted by vtunie

新年快樂 -- I know several people who had the overeaten-overdrunk-very-smug-happy look this week!

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by TripperFan

You know, I'm not sure! They usually have a huge thing here in Chinatown, but because of the snowstorms we've been getting it's pretty much shut the city down. I know the local news followed people while they were shopping for the special items for the dinner, but other than that, I didn't see much.

I did go out for lunch yesterday though with a bunch of guys from the office. I was the only white in the bunch - it must have looked funny!

I just love Chinatown at Spadina, its my fave place to visit when i'm up in TO....it's like a whole new World right at my doorstep..and a great place to get anime stuff Hey Cathie, maybe ill see you there some time

sadly I didnt take this pic..I was always too busy shopping to bring my camera there

[Mikado]

I KNEW I had some pics of Toronto Chinatown' Chinese NY celebrations, somewhere

[RoryGilmore]

when was the chinese new year?

[TripperFan]

The actual date was February 7th.

Those are nice pics Mikey! Funny, I didn't see anything on the news about the celebrations this year - just them following a woman around who was shopping for the big meal (they have traditional dishes like fish for health, seaweed for prosperity and rice to keep the family "stuck" together). ; )

I thought Vancouver would be big on it because of the large Asian population out there but Toronto seems to still be the big spot. Course we are for a lot of ethnic celebrations - Carabana being pretty much the biggest. I also love that one. People come up from the States and even the Islands themselves for that one.

Give Toronto the smallest excuse for a party and we'll hold it!! WOOHOO!

[RoryGilmore]

Yeah I didnt hear anything about it either

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by Jo/Blair Fan

Yeah I didnt hear anything about it either

You should come up one year for it. There's a chain of chinese buffet restaurants called Mandarin and they hold festivals each year. Their menu isn't really authentic chinese (like you'd get in the Spadina area) but they're really good and even offer roast beef, and polish sausage believe it or not. The staff are fantastic (always Chinese) and it's one of my favourite places to go. Prices are very reasonable and you can stuff yourself. They give you those rollout calendars and have goldfish ponds at the entrances. The best one is their head office in Brampton. I held my wedding rehearsal dinner there. Oh those moon cakes are so good too!! lol

Other than that, I go to a place that translates into "Best Friend". It's authentic Chinese and is in Mississauga at a Chinese mall. Best hot & sour soup and yeung chow fried rice in the city.

O.k. - now I'm craving this stuff!

[waichingliu81]

Originally Posted by TripperFan

You should come up one year for it. There's a chain of chinese buffet restaurants called Mandarin and they hold festivals each year. Their menu isn't really authentic chinese (like you'd get in the Spadina area) but they're really good and even offer roast beef, and polish sausage believe it or not. The staff are fantastic (always Chinese) and it's one of my favourite places to go. Prices are very reasonable and you can stuff yourself. They give you those rollout calendars and have goldfish ponds at the entrances. The best one is their head office in Brampton. I held my wedding rehearsal dinner there. Oh those moon cakes are so good too!! lol

Other than that, I go to a place that translates into "Best Friend". It's authentic Chinese and is in Mississauga at a Chinese mall. Best hot & sour soup and yeung chow fried rice in the city.

O.k. - now I'm craving this stuff!

that sounds cool. in london, whenever i buy chinese food i always get it at chinatown, although i avoid the buffets because i am not a huge fan of the food that they serve there when i can order a proper meal of rice or noodles with meat and vegetables instead