For the first time, Tucson Chinese Cultural Center will celebrate the Chinese New Year virtually on Saturday, Feb. 13.
The Chinese New Year, which follows the lunar calendar, is the most important holiday in China. Every year, the 15-day festivities are celebrated with family, traditional food, art, music and performances.
This year — the “Year of the Ox” — is no different, said Susan Chan, the center’s executive director.
“We, the board, decided we could not cancel the event. Basically, Chinese New Year is to wash away the old and bring in the new,” which Chan said is exactly what people hope for during times like this.
Events on Saturday include a virtual cooking class on Chinese dumplings at 10 a.m. and a virtual cultural concert at 6 p.m. that will include Chinese folk dancing, singing, lion dancing and a group from Wuhan, China, performing from the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan.
All performers have been asked to wear masks at all times, social distance and wash their hands. Equipment will also be cleaned between performances, organizers said.
“We’re going to be streaming it to different parts of the country (and) to China,” Chan said.
Events will be streamed on the center’s YouTube channel, tucne.ws/tccc. Pull up a seat with a little something from one your favorite local Chinese restaurants and wash away the old.
