Sydney and Melbourne Celebrate Lunar New Year with Colour, Culture and a Bit of Aussie Flair
Lunar New Year celebrations in Sydney with lion dancers and red lanterns – Image created by ChatGPT with DALL·E by OpenAI.
VOCABULARY LIST
Ring in (phrasal verb) /rɪŋ ˈɪn/: To celebrate the beginning of something
People across Australia gathered to ring in the Year of the Horse.In full swing (idiom) /ɪn fʊl swɪŋ/: At its busiest or most active stage
Lunar New Year celebrations are in full swing across the country.Come together (phrasal verb) /kʌm təˈɡɛðə/: To join as a group for a shared purpose
Families and friends come together to celebrate the New Year.Red packets (noun phrase) /rɛd ˈpækəts/: Small red envelopes with money inside, given for good luck
Children were excited to receive red packets during the festival.Good luck and prosperity (noun phrase) /ɡʊd lʌk ən prɒˈspɛrəti/: Success, wealth and positive fortune
The hongbao are meant to bring good luck and prosperity.Kick off (phrasal verb) /kɪk ˈɒf/: To begin
Celebrations in Parramatta will kick off with lion dancing and firecrackers.Put your knowledge to the test (phrase) /pʊt jə ˈnɒlɪdʒ tə ðə tɛst/: To check how much you know about something
Visitors could put their knowledge to the test with a quiz.Cycle (verb) /ˈsaɪkəl/: To repeat in a regular pattern
The five traditional elements cycle through the Chinese calendar.Crowd-pleaser (noun – informal) /kraʊd ˈplizə/: Something that many people enjoy
The lion dance was a real crowd-pleaser.Stunt (noun) /stʌnt/: A dangerous or impressive physical act
The performer amazed everyone with his balancing stunt.
ARTICLE
Lunar New Year celebrations are in full swing across Australia, with communities in Sydney and Melbourne coming together to ring in the Year of the Horse.
A popular tradition during the festival is giving red packets, also known as hongbao in Mandarin and lai see in Cantonese. These small red envelopes contain money and symbolise good luck and prosperity for the year ahead.
In Melbourne’s Docklands, people gathered around a cumquat tree to hang red packets on its branches. Many wrote messages before tying them up. One local resident said she loves how people from different backgrounds come together in such a multicultural city. She explained that Sri Lankan New Year is celebrated at a similar time of year and shares similar traditions.
Some Chinese expats said the celebrations in Melbourne even felt stronger than back home. The colourful lion dances were a real crowd-pleaser, making many people feel as if they were back in China.
The Lunar New Year follows a 12-year zodiac system. The animals cycle every 12 years, and the five traditional elements — fire, wood, earth, metal and water — also cycle through the calendar. This year is the Year of the Fire Horse, which only happens once every 60 years. Experts say a horse year represents opportunity and energy.
In Sydney’s west, celebrations in Parramatta will kick off with high-pole lion dancing, firecracker displays and appearances from the God of Wealth. A large red archway has been set up in Parramatta Square to mark the event.
One major crowd-pleaser was 74-year-old “Chinese Wonderman” Michael Xiao. The experienced performer amazed onlookers with a risky stunt — carefully balancing on top of chicken eggs placed on a small table. His goal was not to crack them or fall over, but unfortunately one egg smashed.
He said performing takes years of martial arts training, focus and balance. Even after 40 years as a performer, he is still passionate about entertaining the public.
Across Australia, Lunar New Year events show how different communities can come together and celebrate shared traditions. If you want to learn more, you can even put your knowledge to the test with a quiz about Lunar New Year customs.
SOURCE:
This article is based on:
Traditional Lunar New Year celebrations in Sydney and Melbourne ring in Year of the Horse - ABC News
Reflection Questions
Instructions:
Use these questions as:
– Speaking practice (e.g. talk to yourself, record and listen back)
– Writing practice (e.g. short paragraph answers)
– Class discussion with your teacher or classmates
Does your culture celebrate a New Year at a different time? How is it similar or different?
Why do you think multicultural cities like Melbourne and Sydney are good places for cultural festivals?
Would you like to receive red packets? Why or why not?
Do you believe zodiac signs influence personality or luck? Why?
Have you ever seen a live performance or stunt? How did it make you feel?
Comprehension activity - multiple choice
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