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Celebrating Chinese New Year
Celebrating Chinese New Year
ABOUT 100 people, many from the surrounding community, attended the Chinese New Year celebration at St. Philip on-the-Hill, Unionville on Jan. 26. The event included dancing, music, drumming, singing and a banquet. Almost all of the performers were professionals. Apples, which symbolize a wish for peace in Chinese culture, were blessed by Bishop Peter Fenty, the Rev. Stephen Kern and the Rev. Esther Deng.
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Airol Yan Zhao performs Kunqu Opera, an ancient form of Chinese drama.
Photos by Michael Hudson
Ms. Deng says the annual event is an important outreach initiative to Mandarin-speaking people in the community. “Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions, but not every family member is here with them in Canada, so they can come celebrate with us,” she says. “It also gives them a chance to know our church.”
Rebecca Niu dances to ‘Yimeng Minor’.
The church has been celebrating Chinese New Year since 2016 and some people have joined the church as a result, she says. The church’s Mandarin Ministry worships on Sundays at 1 p.m.
From left, the Rev. Stephen Kern, Bishop Peter Fenty and the Rev. Esther Deng bless apples before they are given out.
