This time of year, we celebrate the Lunar New Year in Vancouver. When we see and experience the Grand Parade in Vancouver's Chinatown, we feel great about the festive and vibrant way of welcoming the year.
This year's Lunar New Year, starting on January 29, 2025, is a widely celebrated event in cultures influenced by the Chinese community. The most anticipated part is the Grand Parade, which draws a hundred thousand spectators to witness the graceful dancers and the captivating dragon and lion dances.
Living in Vancouver's late winter season, we were excited for the first significant snowfall on February 2, the day of the Grand Parade. However, the weather had other plans, and we had to forgo the opportunity to witness the vibrant event.
The Grand Parade in 2023 and 2024 was a sight to behold, and we're always eager to be part of the festivity. Despite missing out this year, we are already looking forward to the next Lunar New Year, living in the positive spirit that it brings.
But then we discovered the "Lantern City," a visual display of giant and colorful lanterns in various locations in Vancouver. The lanterns are displayed until a few days after the Lantern Festival on February 12, which marks the end of the Lunar New Year.
On a sunny weekend, February 8, we seized the opportunity to explore the Lantern City. We visited three out of five locations: Robson Square, Pendulum Gallery, and Benthall Centre, each offering a unique and vibrant display of giant lanterns.
Vancouver is a highly walkable city, so we could walk from one location to another. It took us an hour to see and appreciate the giant lanterns in three places.
The Lantern City started in 2019 when they invited Indigenous artists to paint their art on a giant lantern that turns into a colorful masterpiece. This visual bridging of cultures fosters a sense of unity and acceptance. It showcases an artistic rendition of one's emotions, ethnicity, and cultural background and is shared with a broader audience.
The Lantern display in Robson Square was the most colorful and diverse, showcasing lanterns from various cultures, including a lantern painted by a Filipino artist, Mayo Landicho. He called his art "Armour of the Serpiente," representing the Filipino people's strength, courage, and resiliency.
The lantern and art display in the Pendulum Gallery showcases Taiwanese stories and culture, and the ones in Benthall Centre are giant lanterns similar to the Robson Square display. All these giant lanterns light up at night, giving vibrant and vivid glow-in-the-dark visuals.
The year 2025 is the year of the Wood Snake. It's a year of creativity, growth, and transformation. The previous years have been auspicious since they brought more extraordinary luck and success in many aspects of life.
I started celebrating the Lunar New Year, popularly called Chinese New Year, in 2013 in Binondo Chinatown in Manila, Philippines. That was the beginning of my journey to experience the Chinese culture and beliefs, which I've learned to adopt in my way of living.
I'm optimistic that this year of the Wood-snake will bring luck and prosperity. With the power of positive affirmations, things will manifest by God's will.
Renewal and transformation
This is the time to let go of the old and obsolete and embrace new habits and beliefs. The courage for personal renewal may be challenging, but our desire can bring meaningful and significant transformation in our lives.
Wisdom and Growth
Seeking wisdom makes life meaningful as we tend to solve complex mysteries. A life full of wisdom makes us understand ourselves better, leading to a better version and letting go of our old selves.
Hopes and Desires
Living in fear only makes life miserable, but living in hope and desires makes life worth living. As we journey, we hope for the best and fulfill our heart's deepest desires.
The Lantern City reminds us that in times of chaos and difficulty, we always have a chance to pause, enjoy, learn, and live our best lives. Amidst the darkness of life, there's always a lantern that sparks joy, lifts up the spirit, and gives lasting hope.
©️ 2025 Del Cusay