Celebrating the Year of the Horse at the Royal Alberta Museum.
“It was nice to see the integration between Chinese culture and Indigenous culture,” says attendee
Hand-crafted Chinese lantern from the complimentary arts and crafts. Photo credit: Rea Francesca Pallay
Despite extreme cold cancelling the outdoor parade, Edmonton families filled the Royal Alberta Museum on Sunday, February 22, to celebrate the Lunar New Year and honour the Year of the Horse.
Hosted by the Chinatown and Area Business Association, the Royal Alberta Museum, and the City of Edmonton, the free event began indoors at noon with welcoming speeches and cultural dances.
Dancing Cree performed, linking Indigenous and Chinese traditions through shared drumming. They danced to each other’s music, from Cree drumming for lion dance to Chinese drumming for Cree dance.
Attendees participated in Chinese calligraphy, where someone offered to write a word or statement of their choice, Year of the Horse teachings, caricatures, face painting, a photo booth, and Lunar New Year crafts from local vendors.
Prize draws totalling $5,000 supported local Chinatown businesses, while a Money God figure distributed 888 red envelopes for good fortune to excited families.
Special guests including MLAs, MPs, and city council members mingled and offered photo opportunities during the festive downtown core gathering.
Brian and Joanne Han attended with their young daughter after finding the event on Facebook, marking her first experience of the Lunar New Year traditions.
“We were just looking for something to do today and wanted her to see the dances and hear all the music,” said Brian.
The family wished for good health, time together, and more cultural exposure this year.
“It was nice to see the integration between Chinese culture and Indigenous culture. I wasn’t expecting that,” said Joanne.
Although cold weather forced the event indoors, it failed to dim the bright celebration of the second annual Lunar New Year hosted by the Chinatown and Area Business Association.
