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Lunar new year highlights fun and celebrates cultural diversity at Lanark Heights
'This year we want to bring some cultural programs embracing diversity and understanding of different cultures'
2/7/2025
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Deron Hamel
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The new lunar calendar began Jan. 29, and Lanark Heights residents and team members rang in the Year of the Snake with a variety of events and activities.
Celebrating lunar new year was also a way for the Kitchener long-term care community to promote diversity and celebrate culture, which will be a focus throughout 2025, says life enrichment manager Karla Verdesoto.
“This year we want to bring some cultural programs embracing diversity and understanding of different cultures,” she tells S&R Today.
Many countries across Asia use the lunar calendar. The Lanark Heights celebration largely focused on how the lunar new year is celebrated in China.
Residents and team members participated in activities in January to celebrate lunar new year.
These included live music, making and displaying decorations and, of course, food. Red is the official colour of the lunar new year in China, so people found their favourite red outfits to wear on the first day of the lunar calendar.
“Everyone wore red during the day, including staff members,” Karla says. “We ended the celebration with sparkling apple juice and fortune cookies.”
The snake is the sixth animal in the 12-year cycle of zodiac signs in the lunar calendar. The Year of the Dragon was 2024, and 2026 will be the Year of the Horse.
The website Chinesenewyear.net explains the significance of the Year of the Snake.
“Snake is a cautious, introverted observer, cool and mysterious in behaviour owing to their suspicious and insecure nature, yet their armour conceals abundant sensitivity, wisdom, and passion that will surely surprise their few confidants,” the website says.
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