Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, will be celebrated in Lyon again this year. For the occasion, the Grande Rue de Croix Rousse (Saturday, February 1) and the famous Rue Passet (Sunday, February 2) will be decked out in their finest festive attire. This weekend is the perfect time to celebrate the Chinese New Year and get February off to a flying start. And the good news is that the weather should be fine!
The Lion Dance, an ancestral Chinese New Year tradition
On the occasion of Lunar New Year, the Association des Chinois de Lyon et région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (ACLYR) and the Centre de l’Asie have joined forces to offer a whole day dedicated to this new year under the sign of the Wooden Snake. You’ll find food stalls, the famous Lion Dance show, martial arts demonstrations and much more!
The Dance of the Lions was originally organized to chase away evil spirits. Legend has it that a monster comes to eat humans on the first day of the year. But the monster hates light and noise, so lanterns must be lit and dancing must go on until the end of the night… Dancing Lions will pass through each store on Rue Passet, and shopkeepers are expected to make an offering to the monster.
A whole weekend dedicated to Chinese culture
For the more impatient, from this Saturday (February 1), come and enjoy the magic of Chinese New Year in the Grande Rue de Croix-Rousse. There, too, a Lion Dance and a variety of other activities are planned for your enjoyment. Otherwise, head to Guillotière this Sunday for a great day of festivities and celebrations. An opportunity to (re)immerse yourself in Chinese culture by sampling delicious street food, or just to enjoy the many events planned for the day. We can’t wait!