Local communities in Sudbury embrace renewal and tradition as the Lunar New Year arrives, marking the transition to the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac. This vibrant period succeeds the Year of the Snake, symbolizing forward movement, independence, and endurance. The rare Fire Horse combination recurs every 60 years.
Vietnamese Association Gala
Members of Sudbury’s Vietnamese community gathered for a festive dinner at the Days Inn on Brady Street. Nam (John) Le, vice-president of the Vietnamese Association of Sudbury, highlights the shift “from the snake to the horse.” “This is going to be a good year coming up,” he states.
Attendance reached 200 to 300 guests, down from about 500 last year due to venue capacity, Valentine’s Day overlap, and a holiday Monday. Attendees savored traditional Vietnamese dishes, with Le emphasizing, “When we are away from home, we really want to taste the traditional food because food is culture. We want to connect back to that.”
The evening featured local Vietnamese dance groups, a lion dance, a traditional long dress fashion contest, and karaoke until midnight. Le reports positive feedback: “Everybody was very happy. They enjoyed the traditional food. They enjoyed the performance. They had the experience to explore the new culture.” Beautiful decorations provided ideal photo spots for families, preserving memories for generations.
For Le, the holiday reinforces identity: “I think the point is basically that it reflects our own identity, even though we’ve been in Canada for so long, culture is still here. That just keeps that tradition to the next and the next generation.” Volunteers and cooks prepared the meals.
Mayor’s Greeting
Mayor Paul Lefebvre shares warm wishes via social media: “I want to extend my warmest greetings to Greater Sudbury’s Vietnamese communities as families come together to celebrate renewal, hope and new beginnings.”
Chinese Community Traditions
Jing Wang of the Chinese Association of Greater Sudbury celebrated the Lunar New Year’s eve with friends and marked the first day traditionally. “In China, we usually decorate our homes and clean up our homes. We also prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner together,” she explains. Festivities there typically span seven days, though up to 16 days occur.
In Canada, celebrations adapt without extended family nearby. “In China, the kids, parents, grandparents, the different generations, we just get together. But here we are, only three members in our family,” Wang notes, opting for gatherings with friends. To connect her daughter to heritage, Wang purchased traditional clothes and prepared red envelopes filled with money for local children, symbolizing energy, happiness, and good luck.
The Chinese Association of Greater Sudbury plans an event on February 21 at the Parkside Older Adult Centre from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., offering traditional meals and performances.
Year of Energy and Progress
Le extends traditional wishes: good health, happiness, prosperity, continued success, and the strength and spirit of a powerful horse throughout the year.
