New Year in the House of China

Performances at the Chinese New Year festival provided the essence of what Chinese culture is all about. Harmony, vibrant colorful attires, cheerful faces and methodical coordination, all under a fun environment.

The Year of the Pig celebration took place at Balboa Park on the weekend of February 9 and 10 and was full of dynamic dances, vibrant music and the inviting smells of Chinese food.

“This festival was made to promote friendship and culture” said David Seid, President of the House of China in charge of the organization of the festival.

The Chinese New Year celebration in San Diego originated during the Great Depression with an agreement between the city and the park’s International Cottages with the purpose of boosting morale and generating tourism. The House of China was started in 1935 in alliance with the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA), and became independent in the 1970s when the International Cottages became incorporated.

The last six Chinese New Year celebrations have taken place at Balboa Park and have begun to expand.

Seid said House of China memberships and fundraising events help contribute to these annual celebrations. Seid encourages students to explore Chines culture by participating in fundraising volunteer work throughout the year.

The festival began with a Q & A session where the audience was invited to participate. The questions involved details of the Chinese New Year celebration and culture. The crowd was very motivated and eager to participate. Parents pointed to their children, who desperately jumped eagerness to respond. Prizes were provided to participants who delivered the correct answers demonstrating their knowledge of Chinese culture.

After the Q-and-A session, children performed traditional Chinese dances involving soft harmonized movements that allowed them to move together seamlessly. Their distinctive attire was full of vibrant colors and attracted the attention of other children in the audience.

Several dances during the performances incorporated martial arts demonstrations. The captivated audience continually applauded. The movements of the performers were coordinated and precise, giving the performance an energetic feel. Some of the dances were also performed by teens, teachers and instructors. They also including soft martial arts movements.

Children in the crowd were particularly drawn to the movements of the Chinese umbrella dances, which gave the impression of bright and shiny colorful moving waves.

The Chinese lion and dragon dances involved costumes with enlarged colorful heads and coordinated music movements that kept the positive energy of the festival going. The audience was mesmerized with the performances as the lion and dragon would move to the rhythm of the music and would suddenly stand and shake as a sign of power and force. The lion dance represents power and wisdom while the dragon dance represents prosperity and good luck.

Scattered throughout the festival were exhibits of Chinese artifacts, which included the traditional golden and red fish for good luck, along with greeting cards and jewelry. Booths of Chinese specialty food were full of people tasting and enjoying the delicious plates. The most popular were Teriyaki and traditional Chinese dumplings. The sounds of the food against the grill and aromas quickly attracted crowds.

Planning of the 2020 Chinese New Year Festival started a few days before the 2019 event occurred as it takes a whole year to plan it.