San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATED VIRTUALLY
Lucky Lion Dancers, drum group ring in Year of the Ox
What leaders of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of San Diego could not put on in person, they pulled off online Saturday, as celebrants gathered around their laptops, PCS and mobile phones to toast the 39th Annual Chinese New Year Fair.
For 38 years, the nonprofit has hosted a rousing parade and festival in the streets of downtown San Diego, where members of the Chinese community have strived and thrived for generations, to usher luck and good fortune into the Lunar New Year.
This time around, however, with the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly on the decline but continuing to spread, association leaders called off the famous Lantern Parade, the performances of the San Diego Lucky Lion Dancers and the martial arts demonstrations.
Instead, they welcomed the Year of the Ox like never before, with virtual demonstrations and short histories of the traditions that have been observed and cultivated for thousands of years.
“Come on down and come into the building during the fair,” said Markus Quon, the association board’s treasurer, showing off the nonprofit’s Third Avenue headquarters and social hall as the event kicked off.
Quon talked about the work and mission of the association, which not only promotes culture but operates senior housing apartments.
The hour-long festival, which continues today at noon on Youtube, Facebook and the association website, included a brief history of the Lucky Lion Dancers, who have been performing at events across San Diego County for 75 years.
Presenters spoke about the 12 animals that make up the Chinese Zodiac, and how they long ago came to cross the Yellow River.
They taught children how to make their own lanterns to celebrate the new year, and a Korean drum group performed ahead of the popular Asian Story Theater, which included a fable that concluded in something of a cliffhanger that will be revealed today.
Lilly Cheng, the San Diego State University professor and icon in the local Chinese community, introduced a performance of the traditional classic, “The Fisherman’s Song at Dusk” played on the Guzheng, or Chinese Zither.
Association board member Donna Lee took a minute to discuss the importance of Chinese New Year, which recognizes the start of the lunar new year that began this year with the new moon on Feb. 12.
“May you always have more than you need,” Lee said. “Now may I wish you good health, wealth and happiness in the new year ahead.”
Toward the end of the presentation, the association’s Mymy Lu acknowledged the difficulty of hosting a festival online but said the tradition is important to keep alive.
“We know it’s not the same,” she said. “... But we hope this is a good alternative, especially in these challenging times.”
Visit ccbasd.org for additional details, entertainment schedules or replays of the one-hour presentation.