Usher in the Year of the Rooster with these events
Published 1:30 am Friday, January 20, 2017
Cock-a-doodle-do.
It’s almost time for another celebration.
This one ushers in the Year of the Rooster.
Tied to the lunar calendar, and falling on the first day of the new moon, there will be about 15 days of celebrations officially starting Jan. 28 and ending on the last day of the full moon.
Rooster is the 10th in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac sign. People born in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 and 2017 are known as roosters.
Roosters are active, amusing, popular, healthy, outspoken, honest, loyal, talkative and charming. They are known to enjoy the spotlight.
Some famous roosters are Confucius, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Groucho Marx, Serena Williams, Vanna White, Matt Lauer, Ivanka Trump, Henry Winkler, Neal Young and Yoko Ono.
In addition to big venues, Lunar New Year events are held at schools, senior centers, restaurants, casinos and libraries.
Here are some places to celebrate, regardless of your animal sign.
Seattle Center Festál: Têt Festival Vietnamese Lunar New Year: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m Jan. 21 and 22, Seattle Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion, 305 Harrison St., Seattle.
The festival theme is Têt in Seattle: Roots of Our Ancestry. Experience traditional Vietnamese culture in music and dance performances by local temple and church groups and a demonstration of Vovinam martial arts. Festival-goers may join a lion dance workshop and perform the ritual dance designed to ward off bad luck and ensure a prosperous new year. Booths serve noodle dishes, egg rolls, fried rice, kebabs, vegetarian tofu dishes and Vietnamese iced coffee. Arts and craft activities are designed specifically for children. Students from local Vietnamese language schools put their learning to the test in a Vietnamese spelling bee and knowledge bowl.
More at www.seattlecenter.com or by calling 206-684-7200.
Dia Tang/Ksitigarbha Temple Lunar New Year: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Jan. 27; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan 28, 29 and 30, 1705 Filbert Road, Lynnwood.
The temple hosts about a dozen major-themed ceremonies throughout the year, including First Full Moon Ceremony, Buddha’s Relic Ceremony and Buddha’s Birthday. The opulent grounds become even more extravagant, with colorful lights and decorations. It is a Vietnamese temple with Chinese roots. The writings are in Chinese, Vietnamese and English.
Free and open to the public on ceremony days.
Wing Luke Museum: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 28, 719 South King St., Seattle.
Lion dance to ward off evil spirits at 11 a.m. on the street with activities for the family. There will be raffles throughout the day, games and a stuffed animal petting zoo.
Events include:
Arts and crafts workshop for paper roosters and squawking chickens, 11:30 a.m.
Chinese calligraphy workshop, noon.
Toddler story time, 12:15, 2:15 and 4:15 p.m.
Rockin’ rooster room, 12:30 p.m.
Bella Luna face painting, 12:30 p.m.
Film screening of “Chicken Little,” 1 and 2:30 p.m.
Arts and crafts workshop for wool felt eggs, 2:30 p.m.
Free for kids and students. More at www.wingluke.org.
Seattle’s Chinatown-International District Celebration: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 29, Hing Hay Park on Maynard Avenue South and the red Chinatown gate on South King Street, Seattle.
The celebration includes traditional dragon and lion dances, drumming, martial arts and other cultural performances. Arts, crafts and a variety of family-friendly activities. Free admission, with $3 food walk.
Events include:
Lion dances, 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Cultural dance, 11:30 a.m.
Japanese Taiko drumming, 11:45 a.m.
Martial arts demonstrations, 1 p.m.
Adults and kids costume contest, 1:30 p.m.
Traditional Korean drumming, 3 p.m.
More at www.cidbia.org.
Seattle Chinese New Year Concert, Beijing Chinese Orchestra: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16, Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle.
The Beijing Chinese Orchestra, active for about 30 years, is one of the major performing arts groups in Beijing. It is infused with Beijing local culture and regularly performs at the most important diplomatic events in China’s captial. The tour brings President Xi Jinping’s new year’s greeting to spread Chinese culture and enhance Chinese-U.S. relationships.
Tickets: $22 to $42. VIP tickets are $100. More at www.seattlesymphony.org or 866-833-4747.
