LONDON - Londoners celebrated the Chinese New Year festivities on Sunday, February 21 with visitors to Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and London Chinatown welcoming in the Year of the Tiger with Chinese arts, entertainment from both international and home-grown Chinese artists, food, firecrackers and fireworks display.

Chinese New Year dates are determined by the luni-solar Chinese calendar, which means the date varies every year.
This year’s Chinese New Year falls on 14 February but the London Chinatown Chinese Association wanted to make sure everything was in place for the spectacle and celebrated a week later.

“Hundreds of thousands of people enjoy London’s Chinese New Year celebrations, which have become a real highlight in the capital’s calendar events. It’s an opportunity to celebrate and experience Chinese culture, and to see what Chinatown offers—not just during Chinese New year, but all year round,” said the association’s president, Leslie Ng.

Filipinos in the UK capital did not miss the celebrations which were strategically mapped out in various locations around Chinatown to offer performances and activities for the whole family.

“I hang around with a lot of Orientals. I consider Vietnamese, Filipino and Chinese as the same. Although we came from the same background, when there are events like this, you tend to learn more about them-- the differences and similarities. I enjoy it as well,” said Imogen Gabrielle Bolus.
 
For a British-Filipino youngster who is also proud of her Chinese roots, attending the celebrations is part of her heritage, something that she considers fun and educational.   

“It helps me understand my background on the Chinese side and helps me understand the culture. It’s very entertaining as well,” said Melissa ‘Mocca’ Lai Loung.  

In Trafalgar square, two groups from China, namely, the Central and Dance Ensemble and Sichuan Art Troupe performed world-class dances, music, acrobatics and martial arts. Chinese dragons and lion dances were the highlights of the performances.

Meanwhile, Chinatown, which was festooned for the occasion, had cultural stalls, food and lion dance displays. Shaftesbury Avenue was transformed to become "Hong Kong in London Chinatown," which also erected a stage for the performances of local Chinese artists.

London’s mayor Boris Johnson was delighted to give his backing to London’s Chinese New Year Celebrations.

“Not only it is the largest outside Asia, it is undoubtedly one of the brightest, most colorful events seen in the capital. In 2010 it marks the start of the Year of the Tiger and we should take inspiration from some of the finest attributes of that fine culture. Looking forward to the end of the downturn, let’s respond to the future challenges with energy, assertiveness and courage,” said Johnson.
 
In the evening, a colorful fireworks display Leicester Square closed the celebrations.