Although his shadow won't tell people anything about when spring will come, there is another animal besides Phil the groundhog that has an important role to play this week.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. Chinese New Year begins Thursday, February 3, and runs for 15 days. The official Philadelphia celebration will kick off at 11pm February 2 at the "Paifang" China gate located at 10th Street between Market and Arch streets. If you live in the city, or wish to travel into it, your family can experience the fireworks and the New Year's Eve Lion Dance Parade that mark this event.
Another important Chinese New Year's event in the city is the 9th Annual Chinese New Year Celebration at International House Philadelphia, a multicultural residential center, on Friday, February 4, at the Ibrahim Theater on Chestnut Street. Live performances, including the University of Pennsylvania Pan-Asian Dance Troupe, and sampling of traditional Chinese food will be highlights of the celebration.
Your family may also wish to enjoy a special Chinese New Year meal. Many Chinese restaurants in the city offer Chinese New Year's banquets. If you live in the suburbs check to see if your local Chinese restaurant offers a New Year's dinner. These dinners usually require advance reservations and may have a minimum party size.
You can also host your own Chinese New Year's dinner at home with just your own family, or you may wish to invite some friends to be part of the celebration. Your kids will enjoy making homemade egg rolls, stir fry or other home-cooked Chinese dishes. They can also make table decorations and crafts that celebrate the Year of the Rabbit.
If your kids enjoy crafts you might want to take them to the Chinese New Year Popup Workshop at Athenaeum of Philadelphia on Saturday, February 5. Artist Collette Fu will demonstrate how to make a Chinese New Year card using popup techniques.
You and your family can also learn more about the Chinese culture by experiencing Chinatown as part of Chef Joseph's Poon's Wok 'N' Walk Tour. The tours, which run throughout the year, take you to a fortune cookie factory, a Buddhist temple, a Chinese bakery, a Chinese bookstore and the Asian market. The two-hour walk will culminate in a 4-course Chinese meal. Tell your kids to listen closely to Chef Poon's narration so they will have the opportunity to answer his questions and win prizes.
Find out other ways to celebrate the Chinese New Year through the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation.
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