This week we’re jumping in and celebrating Lunar New Year and the year of the Tiger. All across Western Sydney, you’ll find events, festivals and celebrations happening throughout the week to bring in the new year!
Walking the streets of Bankstown, your senses will be flooded with colour and fragrances bringing in the new year. You’ll notice stalls selling beautifully decorated money trees in both pink and yellow flowers to celebrate the new year. What you’ll see decorating the trees is Lai See or Hong Bao. The red envelopes are often decorated in transitional Chinese or Vietnamese characters and symbols representing good luck and prosperity. The envelopes are traditionally filled with money and passed onto friends and family. The envelopes are gifted by older people and married couples to children and younger adults.
Across Western Sydney you’ll find events celebrating the Lunar New year – some including The Cabramatta Lunar New Year on February 19th, Eastwood Lunar New Year Celebration on February 12th, Campsie Lunar Noodle Markets on February 18th, and many more.
There is also many cultural events and exhibitions taking place across Western Sydney. The Bankstown Arts Centre is currently displaying their exhibition ‘Cultural Cartography: Creating Art at the Intersection of Cultures’. The exhibition explores the work of five artists; NC Qin, Chris Yee, Cindy Yuen-Zhe Chen, Christina Huynh and Anney Bounpraseuth; drawing from their respective cultural backgrounds and in turn, creating art that is unique, distinctive, and impactful
The exhibition is running until February 20th, so be sure to check it out! Make time to head down to one of our local favourites, (and very popular), Banh Mi spots, Banh Mi Bay Ngo where Jasmine and the team will be sure to look after you! Lovely people, amazing food and something you will be sure to remember.
As well as the local streets, Bankstown Sports Club has a range of celebrations happening throughout the week including
Roaming God of Wealth from 7 pm Monday, January 31, and
Lion Dance Performances on from 7 pm Tuesday, February 1, 6 pm Friday, February 4 and 7 pm Saturday, February 5.
The Club is something of a local destination and is sure to surprise you. Check out CANTON KITCHEN when you are there for some great cuisine and an experience that celebrates authentic street food.