Chinese New Year 2002 UK
Report of the Chinese New Year Celebrations in UK Chinatowns in 2002

	Chinese New Year celebrations in the United Kingdom are coming of age – no longer the quirky celebrations of a small community, but celebrations which stretch across the land, and across generations. Increasingly Chinese New Year is seen as a mainstream celebration – and this was driven home in 2002 with the staging of celebrations in London's Trafalgar Square – the first time in the Square's 150 year history in which a “private party” has been held there. Chinatown online is pleased to have been an official sponsor of the London celebrations – officially recognised as the largest in Europe. Beyond local events, a national supermarket chain used the 'Chinese theme' to launch a new advertising campaign – to a mixed reception from the Chinese community it has to be said. Meanwhile, London Transport, in the guise of London Underground launched a special edition of the Underground Map with a dragon cleverly chasing the “pearls of wisdom” – pearls of wisdom coming in the form of underground stations. Chinatown Online were delighted to be cultural consultants to the design team, and it has to be said, the end result was better received than the supermarket adverts! But of course, London is but a part of our national life, and Manchester, once again put on a large show. Great anticipation filled the air, as the steady beat of the dragon procession turned the corner into Manchester Chinatown’s main street. Children called out with excitement, turning to their parents for explanations. It was Chinese New Year again at this very popular Chinatown. Manchester is a bustling, multicultural developing city, and nowhere was this reflected more than in the sea of well wishers and families who had turned out to join the celebrations. The crowds gazed with awe as the dragon snaked his way through the crowd, making sure that most onlookers had the opportunity to witness the centrepiece of the Chinese New Year celebrations. A ferocious crackle filled the air as firecrackers were lit, sending smoke into the air and marking the conclusion of the main dragon dance. Visitors were then free to explore many of the fine restaurants which line Manchester’s Chinatown, and the festival of stores which had been set up. Available were fresh noodle stores, a hit with visitors and locals alike, reminiscent of a bustling Hong Kong market place. Unfortunately, the Chinese arch was covered due to renovation work but this failed to dampen the jubilant spirits. The evening was finally concluded by a fireworks display which could been seen from far away. Meanwhile, just 40 miles down the road, Liverpool, with the backdrop to die for – the Liverpool imperial Arch-, managed once again to bring in huge crowds, enjoying the razmataz of the carnival atmosphere, the street market, and the numerous special events planned around the city, not just on the 'big celebration day', but throughout the week. In Britain’s most northerly (and for that matter easterly) Chinatown, the good people of Newcastle and the Tyneside were no less entertained in a day of bright colours, prancing lions and clanging cymbals. Newcastle has some of the most energetic lions in the country – afforded a little bit more room for manouverability because of relatively more space available to them. These are lions well worth seeing, and although Newcastle’s Chinatown in small, the activities are no less well planned, and the food (we Chinese can't celebrate without food) is superb. Which just leaves us with the folks in Birmingham, home to Britain’s most recently redeveloped Chinatown, and again benefiting from the almost ampitheatre-like facilities offered by the Arcadian centre. These facilities were put to excellent use to stage the many community groups and performers who used the New Year celebrations as a showcase for talent, young and old, within the local Chinese community. Chinatown Online congratulates all the organising committees and behind the scenes workers who put in the time and effort to provide Britain with one of its most cosmopolitain national celebrations. Steve Lau & Jonathan Yee (Manchester)