City celebrates Chinese New Year with Myths and Legends

By Lauren McGlone
Senior Staff Writer
January 31, 2007

With the arrival of February, millions of people around the globe are anticipating the upcoming Chinese New Year. This year, Philadelphia is fortunate enough to be celebrating the event with the Chinese New Year Spectacular Myths and Legends.

Feb. 18 marks the beginning of the Year of the Pig, according to the Chinese Zodiac. People born under this sign are said to possess such qualities as chivalry and pureness of heart, and look forward to making 2007 a year to shine both personally and professionally.

The renowned Chinese New Year Spectacular Myths and Legends is a 28-city worldwide tour never previously featured in the city of Philadelphia. In this new Year of the Pig, the troupe performed at the Merriam Theater Jan. 23 and 24 for Philadelphia patrons.

Sponsored in conjunction with the New Tang Dynasty Television, the Greater Philadelphia Asian Culture Center and the Delaware Asian Culture Center, over 200 vocalists, musicians and dancers were brought to entertain audiences. Themes of the show included lessons in Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism highlighting the Tang Dynasty, a period of greatness for the Chinese arts.

In addition to the festivities at the Merriam Theater, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology sponsored a day of celebration, filled with family-friendly events Jan. 27. Activities in celebration of the Chinese New Year included music, dance, games, workshops, food and arts and crafts.

Other events in the tri-state area celebrating the arrival of the Year of the Pig include an auction on Main Street in Mount Holly, N.J. during the annual town meeting at the library Feb. 2. Additionally, the Victoria Theater of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark is holding a family performance of martial arts and dances Feb. 17. Finally, on Feb. 24, the Independence Seaport Museum is hosting a hands-on workshop featuring lantern-making and dragonhead designing.

mcglonel1@lasalle.edu