The Chinese New Year 2022 celebrations are set to start today, kicking-off a week to mark the ‘Year of the Tiger’. Also called Spring Festival, it marks the start of a new lunar year, with festivities traditionally lasting up to two weeks including fireworks, gifts, dragon and lion dances.
With the Covid pandemic meaning that there was no official events in the city since 20219, the first 50 people watching this year’s event will be given a free £3 voucher to enjoy a breakfast to start the day off.
The annual event, organised by James Wong, chair of Birmingham’s Chinese Festival Committee and managing director of the city’s famous Chung Ying Restaurants, will see the traditional lion dance starting in Centenary Squa before visiting other parts of the city centre and beyond throughout the day.
He said: “I made it my mission a few years ago to spread these celebrations across the city, and I’m pleased to say I’ve done it. The idea is to preserve Chinese heritage and to spread cheer, luck and prosperity in the city.”
General Manager of Westside BID, Mike Olley, added: “Birmingham is an incredibly diverse city to be a part of and we are thrilled to commence these celebrations on Westside today.”
