New Year's Evil

Yuletide celebrations may have come and gone, except Sunday, February 10 will see the celebration of Chinese New Year, ringing in what is in Chinese astrology, the Year of the Rat. As the largest city in Europe and one with a large Chinese population, London's Chinese New Year celebrations are among the most extravagant of the world - last year it was the largest in the world outside Asia, attracting over 300,000 visitors.

London's Chinese New Year celebrations are naturally concentrated around Chinatown, located in the Soho district of the city of Westminster and the occupation of the area in and around Gerrard Street. The site itself is a must for any tourist, and contains many Chinese restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets and souvenir shops in China.

Chinese New Year celebrations start at 11:00, with the Grand Parade from Charing Cross Road to Trafalgar Square and admission is free.

The opening speeches, including by officials appointed as the Chairman of Central London, the Chinese community and Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, launched the celebrations with the "points on the Lions 'eyes'. In this ceremony, lucky, two dancers wear a costume of a lion and giant eyes are painted to chase away evil spirits and bring the lion to life. Accompany the lion sleep are drums, gongs and cymbals, starting slowly and finishing in a crescendo, exploding like a lion wakes up and starts to flick his ears, scratch and breathe. The lion starts to dance off like firecrackers.

Following is the fascinating dance of the dragon, a vital part of Chinese festivals for over two millennia. Historically part of the harvest rituals, today it symbolizes the reconciliation of prosperity and good luck in the coming year. The dragon itself is a long body and brightly painted snake-like on poles, carried by a maximum of eight dancers, with an ornamental head and tail.

At 1 pm, the center of the stage becomes a showcase for the talents of various local artists and guests. These include both contemporary and traditional arts, dance arts and martial music. An impressive display of talent, it promises to be one of the essential parts of the festival.

The sky lit up with fireworks around Leicester Square every hour from 2 to 6 hours, and celebrations, and then go from Trafalgar Square in Chinatown. Although it is still a vibrant part of London, this New Year festive spirit should be higher than ever, with the Olympics in Beijing and London in 2012 being incorporated into the festivities. Home to more than 78 restaurants offering everything from traditional to Westernized Chinese cuisine and culinary specialties, Chinatown can provide anyone with an appreciation of something Chinese food according to their tastes.

This year marks the 30th celebration of Chinese New Year in London , a testament to the city's multiculturalism and the popularity of the party, so why not come and experience for yourself an event that brings together the best of Eastern and Western culture.