Chinese New Year is right around the corner – take a look at our blog to get up to speed with what’s going on in Manchester this year.
It’s almost Chinese New Year, and with a huge Chinese population in the city, Manchester is always one of the best places to celebrate the beginning of the New Year on the traditional lunar calendar. Lunar New Year is one of the biggest holidays in China and Hong Kong, and this year, it’s the Year of the Rabbit, falling on the 22nd January. If you’re living or studying in Manchester and want to know more about how to celebrate Chinese New Year, then keep reading.
What is Chinese New Year 2023?
Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is a fifteen-day festival celebrated each year, with the date varying depending on the sighting of the new moon. The holiday is also known as the Spring Festival, and there is a different animal associated with each Lunar New Year.
Chinese New Year 2023 will be the year of the rabbit. The rabbit is the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac and is considered to be the luckiest. According to the Chinese zodiac, people who are born in the year of the rabbit have great qualities, including being kind, peaceful, calm, and elegant.
Head to Chinatown
Chinatown is definitely the best place to be in Manchester if you want to celebrate bringing in the Lunar New Year in style. Filled with authentic Chinese and East Asian restaurants, you can find everything here including traditional Chinese restaurants, sushi bars, Pho restaurants, a traditional Chinese bakery, bubble tea, and much more. For Chinese New Year, be sure to catch the huge celebration through the streets with music, lanterns, live performances, and a funfair.
Don’t forget that red’s a lucky colour according to Chinese superstitions, and wearing red is thought to bring you good luck throughout the new year – so it’s a great time to wear this Red Parrker Quilted Stud Mini Cross Body Bag from Ted Baker.
Dragon Parade
Each year for Lunar New Year, Manchester celebrates with a Dragon Parade. This year, follow the famous 175ft dragon, which will be making its way from Piccadilly to Chinatown. It’ll be followed by a parade with amazing traditional Lion and Ribbon dances, Ancient Army characters, twelve Chinese Zodiac animals, and Chinese Opera performers. The Dragon Parade will be held on Saturday 22nd January, starting at Piccadilly Gardens at 12pm. Keep warm and enjoy the parade in this stunning, lucky red Fired Brick Vicilia Roll Neck Knitted Dress from Vila.
Enjoy a Feast
Manchester is home to some amazing Chinese restaurants, so if you want to celebrate the Lunar New Year in style, then there’s no better way than to go for an authentic Chinese dinner or a dim sum (yum cha, in Cantonese) feast. But beware: tables are likely to fill up very quickly throughout the holiday season, so it’s best to book in advance if you want to make sure that you are seated. Tai Wu on Upper Brook Street is an amazing place to go for authentic dim sum, and underneath you’ll find WH Lung, an Asian supermarket where you can fill your trolley with traditional Chinese New Year goodies like moon cake. Glamorous, located underneath the massive Wing Yip supermarket on Oldham Road, is another amazing option if you want a traditional Chinese feast.
Celebrate at Home
Celebrating at home is another option to consider if you want to bring in the Lunar New Year while beating the crowds. Decorate your home with lanterns and wear red, a lucky colour. This Joules Women's Red Lil Arrow Hoodie is a great option for celebrating Chinese New Year at home.
Food is a huge part of Chinese New Year celebrations, so stock up on goodies and cook up a feast. A traditional Chinese hotpot is a fabulous way to do this – fill a large pan on a camping stove, or an electric hotpot from an Asian supermarket, with soup and use it to cook meat, vegetables, dumplings, and anything else you like for a fun, social dining at home experience. If you want to give gifts to family and friends, then the traditional option is to gift cash, secured in a red envelope.
In 2023, Chinese New Year falls on 22nd January. Whether you want to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit by attending an event, going to a restaurant, or enjoying it at home with family and friends, there is certainly no shortage of options in Manchester. Catch the annual Dragon Parade or book a table to celebrate with a feast at one of the best Chinese restaurants in the city.
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