To welcome in The Year of the Rabbit on Thursday, Youth Journalism International Reporter Nancy Hsu took these pictures in Brisbane, Australia, and wrote about the holiday below:
By Nancy Hsu
Reporter
Youth Journalism International
BRISBANE, Australia – Festivities abounded this week as Chinese New Year hit the city on Thursday.
Many Asian residents, as well as non-Asians, took part in the holiday festivities.
Traditions such as giving of red packets – red envelopes filled with money – lion dancing and firecrackers all help celebrate the occasion.
Traditions such as these are a sign of good luck and to scare away evil spirits but to young people today, especially to second-generation Asians who grew up in Australia, the original purpose of the day has lost its meaning.
For me and many others who celebrate Chinese New Year, it is merely a day for entertainment and to remember our culture.
But we celebrate along with our first-generation Asian parents and elders who still believe in the reasons behind the traditions.