January 14, 2009 | Yvonne Lim Wilson
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President-elect Barack Obama is an ox, which is a very good thing according to the Chinese Zodiac.
2009 is the year of the ox. Those born in the year of the ox are thought to be outstanding leaders, working hard with endless patience. They are dependable, calm, modest and caring souls.
The Chinese Zodiac is based on the 12-year cycle of the lunar calendar. Each year is named after one of 12 animals, each with different characteristics that are believed to influence a person’s character traits.
The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is celebrated by Asians throughout the world. It traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month and ends on the fifteenth day and is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays, something akin to Christmas and Thanksgiving in the United States.
This is a special time for families as they make time to gather for a special dinner. Hong Bao (red envelopes with money) are given, and firecrackers and dragon and lion dances are meant to drive away evil spirits thereby giving a fresh start to the new year.
There are plenty of opportunities to celebrate the Asian New Year in Austin (see the Asian Austin calendar section for details).
The fun starts with a huge celebration put on by the Vietnamese American Community of Austin Texas (VACAT) on Sat., Jan. 17. Their annual Tet Festival packs in dragon dances, food, games, karoke, comedy, singing, a fashion show and more at Lanier High School.
The Asian American Cultural Center on Jollyville Road holds their annual celebration on Sat., Jan. 24. Performances include Asian dances, music, martial arts demonstrations and lion dances, plus plenty of delicious ethnic foods. New this year is a reading of “The Great Race” about the origins of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Ring in the new year with a bang at the new year celebration at the Chinatown restaurant on Mopac on Sun., Jan. 25. Chinatown owner Ronald Cheng sets off the new year with tons of firecrackers – 30,000 rounds!, lion dances and of course, great food for customers.
The International Buddhist Progress Society celebrates the new year on Sun., Jan. 25 and Mon., Jan. 26 at the Fo Guang Shan Hsiang Yun Temple featuring a Thousand Buddha Chanting Service, along with performances and dinner.
It’s a two-day affair on Sat., Jan. 31 and Sun., Feb. 1 at the Chinatown Center at 10901 N. Lamar, complete with food, international entertainment and plenty of stuff for the whole family including rock climbing, video games, Kiwi the Clown and moon bounce. Don’t miss the Texas Dragon and Lion Dance Team and Summit Dragon Dance celebrating with firecrackers at the Chinatown Center pagoda at noon on Sunday. It’s a great opportunity to shop and celebrate.
The Austin Taiwanese Association is hosting a celebration on Sat., Feb. 9 at Murchison Middle School. Have fun chatting over dinner plus lion dance, comedy and children’s program.
If glitz and glamour is more your style, you’ll want to attend the Texas Asian Chamber of Commerce’s Lunar New Year gala on Sat., Feb. 7. The party is distinguished by fabulous pre-party Asian hors d’oeuvres and first-rate entertainment. This year, the chamber is recognizing environmental excellence, with awards for businesses and individuals, as well as scholarships for high school students.
“With all the natural and man-made disasters in the past years and the challenges lying ahead of us this year, it is surely fitting to summon the strength and the quiet perseverance of the "Year of the Earth Ox" within each of us, to overcome obstacles with grounded footing and to experience the down-to-earth joys of life,” said Amy Wong Mok, president and CEO of the Asian American Cultural Center. “Let us work together to plough a kinder and prosperous future in the ‘Year of the Earth Ox’ for all of us.”
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Camp Lucy Event Center features restored buildings imported from Vietnam.
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