A Piggy New Year in Liverpool
The strong links Liverpool has with the Chinese culture and people are traditionally highlighted in the celebrations of the Chinese New Year. The year 2019 is particularly special as it marks the 20th anniversary of Liverpool being twinned with Shanghai. Festive lanterns adorn the streets in pre-season of the main observance week and its culmination of Dragon and Lion Parade held on Sunday. There was a special pyrotechnic show titled The Quest for the Arch in the city's Chinatown, many historic buildings were lit in the red colour, fortune cookies were freely given to passers-by.
We managed to get to the main Sunday event on Great George Square. The weather was cold as expected in mid-February but the Sun was certainly adding to the cheer.
Chinese astrology refers to fixed cycles of twelve animals. The piglets were happily bouncing in the air proclaiming the Pig patronage over the next twelve months. The red colour of lanterns symbolizes health, good fortune, and general happiness. The flags have some good spells or wishes on them.
The hugely colourful and noisy Dragon and Lion parade starts, accompanied by the firecracker display. The noise and fireworks are to drive away bad spirits and bad luck. Dragon and Lion dance symbolises good luck and good fortune.
There were staged performances in a range of traditional costumes by Chinese and British students and a variety of showcases of dance and song around the square, lined with the essential market stalls. The event was organised in a partnership by Pagoda Arts, Everyman Playhouse and Liverpool Confucius Institute.
There was plenty of things for the kids around Great George Square, a Shadow Puppet Theatre, lantern-making workshops, storytelling, dance sessions and the most occupied, bouncing and jumping stage.
The Dragon and Lion Parade then goes through the main street in Liverpool's Chinatown, Nelson Street. It is part of the oldest Chinese community in Europe, around which some 7,000 Chinese immigrant descendants live to this day, according to The International Organization for Migration. Another 30,000 live around the city region. The University of Liverpool also has more Chinese students than any other university in the UK.
The most spectacular moment is the gathering and pyrotechnics at the 'paifang', the Great Arch. It symbolises not a gateway but a centre of the Chinese district. A huge image of the pink Pig rested on the side of the Chinese Freemasons building.
There are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac and the Pig is the last one, ending the 12-year cycle. Additionally, there are five elements of Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth which interplay with each animal. 2019 is the year of the Earth Pig. The last year of this animal was 1959.
According to the traduction, the Pig was the last to arrive for the great meeting called by the Jade Emperor; it was also the last when Buddha gathered the sacred animals when he was about to leave the world. And finally, it was also the last during the sacred race, as it stopped to munch something and fell asleep thus becoming the 12th and last animal of the zodiac cycle.
So, the term "lazy pig" is quite prompt, in the end. It is also believed that a person's character is derived from the birth year of a particular animal sign and element. Glad we are that we are not from the Pig years. Hope, 2019 will not dredge us all in too much tardiness.
Even to the contrary, the parade was swiftly moving on across the Chinatown, visiting all the business that wanted to participate in the traditional blessings by Dragon, Lions and Unicorn.
Earth Pig is said to be communicative (a reference to the pigs' oinking?) popular in a circle of friends ( oh yes, some countries do like their pork), never suspects trickery and thus easily fooled (being fed and kept to finally land on a plate).
Earth Pig years, in general, allow keeping the financial prospects in good order (the piggy bank?). Unfortunately - no for the people born under the Pig influence! It is advised for them to be more careful about all aspects of their lives in the year of their birth sign. Feeling low and dejected, really, like the one below.
Happy Chinese New Year!
www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac
www.yourchineseastrology.com/zodiac/pig