00:02Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, begins on Tuesday 17th February, marking
00:08the first new moon of the lunar calendar and the start of the Spring Festival, which runs
00:14until early March.
00:15In Newcastle, the main celebrations will follow on Sunday 22nd, with events taking place across
00:21the city centre.
00:23Newcastle's Chinatown is one of only five officially designed Chinatowns in the United
00:28Kingdom, and organisers say the annual celebration is one of the largest cultural events in the
00:34region's calendar.
00:36Activities will begin at half past 10 in the morning at Bath Lane, on the edge of Chinatown,
00:41where market stalls, food vendors and an arts and crafts tent will open to the public.
00:47Fairground rides are also planned at that location, with activities expected to continue into the
00:53afternoon.
00:53At quarter to eleven, attention will turn to Grey's Monument, for a traditional dragon-eye
00:59dotting ceremony.
01:00This year marks the introduction of a new 13-metre dragon, the first new dragon in Newcastle for
01:06more than a decade.
01:08The ceremony involves placing red paint on the dragon's eyes, in a ritual intended to symbolically
01:14awaken it ahead of its first performance.
01:16At fifteen minutes past eleven, there will be traditional Chinese dance performances and
01:22Tai Chi demonstrations near the Chinese Arch at the far end of Stowell Street, alongside
01:27a civic welcome.
01:29The main parade will leave Grey's Monument at half past eleven.
01:33Around 150 performers are expected to take part, including local community groups such as
01:39Newcastle Mandarin Chinese School, students from the Confucius Institute at Newcastle University,
01:46and local school children performing with a seven-foot mini dragon.
01:51The parade will travel along Blackett Street and Gallow Gate, before heading towards Stowell
01:56Street, arriving under the Chinese Arch between quarter past and half past twelve.
02:01Lion and dragon dances will feature prominently, accompanied by martial arts displays and firecrackers.
02:09The dragon and lion dances are traditionally associated with bringing good fortune, prosperity
02:15and health to communities and businesses.
02:18Other performances scheduled during the day include a rowing dance by the Boat Ladies of
02:23Hong Kong, as well as music, drumming and cultural demonstrations.
02:26This year is the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese Zodiac, a cycle which repeats every
02:32sixty years and combines the horse associated with vitality and confidence with the fire element
02:39linked to energy and change.
02:41Worldwide, millions of people are marking the start of the Lunar New Year this week.
02:46In China alone, billions of cross-regional journeys are expected during what is often described
02:52as the largest annual human migration.
02:54We wish you prosperity and luck in this Chinese Lunar New Year.
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