CBA Quietly Celebrates Chinese New Year 

The explosion of firecrackers and the clashing of cymbals down the streets of Belize usually indicate the celebration of Chinese New Year for the Asian community in Belize. A time when members come together, to dance, eat and make some noise. This year, however, the Chinese Belize Association has opted for a more subtle celebration. We caught up with honorary CBA Chairman, Edmund Kwan to hear how the festivities are going this year. 

 

Edmund Kwan, Honorary Chairman, CBA

“Year is the lunar New Year, lunar new moon of every year. It usually falls in January or February.”

 

Britney Gordon

“What’s the theme for this year’s Lunar New Year, what’s the animal that represents it?”

 

Edmund Kwan

“This coming year is the year of the Dragon. Basically it’s a zodiac sign, something like horoscope. The entire year is drag is dragon. So if you’re born this in 2024 you’re born in the year of the dragon.”

 

Britney Gordon

“What kind of activities and festivities does the association usually have during this time of year?”

 

Edmund Kwan

“We usually have the banquet and the lion dance parade. However I think the association have some private personal matters. We’re not doing it this year.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So instead, you mentioned that everyone will be celebrating privately within their homes. What kinds of activities does that entail, having a celebration within your house?”

 

Edmund Kwan

“Tonight is New Year’s Eve. Traditionally, we on New Year’s Eve, we sit down at home and everybody have dinner. They call it basically like a full table. We’re all you know, brothers, sister, usually sit down and have a dinner together. Something like Christmas Eve, and then the New Year’s, then there’s an opening year dinner. That is usually the New Year’s banquet that we have, but, people will make more than likely celebrate it at home with their family and stuff like that, but everybody choose a different date.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So I know it can be a bit disappointing that we’re not going to have the parade this year. Are you looking forward to next year? Maybe we’ll try and bring that back?”

 

Edmund Quan

“Definitely. Definitely. Definitely. It’s just some personal issues and some things like, the chairman, have some problems and so we don’t, we’re not, we’re skipping this year. We’re skipping it. We’re not, it’s not forgotten.”