Photo taken on Feb. 9, 2021 shows two Chinese women performing to celebrate Chinese New Year in Canberra, Australia. Making dumplings, putting up couplets, performing traditional dances...the Chinese in Australian capital Canberra find various ways to create an atmosphere for the Spring Festival. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
CANBERRA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Making dumplings, putting up couplets, performing traditional dances...the Chinese in Australian capital Canberra find various ways to create an atmosphere for the Spring Festival.
Peng Youmei, 80, made dumplings with her daughter and son-in-law.
"We have been here in Australia for ten years," she said. "During the past decade, we went back twice to get together with friends and relatives for Spring Festival. For the rest of the years we celebrated the festival here."
They have thought of going back to China last year. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their plan was canceled.
"This time on the New Year's eve, we will invite some friends and fellow Chinese to our house," Peng said, beaming. Her daughter and son-in-law both work in the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and some of their students also failed to go back to China.
"We will have a feast together, watching the televised Spring Festival gala while playing Mahjong and joker," said the Peng.
The office of the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) Chinese Australian Association Inc. in the center of Canberra was decorated with red lanterns and paper-cutting pieces, where some Chinese people were having a party, singing Kunqu opera and performing sword dances.
"Due to the pandemic we cannot invite too many people for a bigger party," said Li Jianjing, a member of the association. "But we will have small-scale gatherings."
Two days before the Spring Festival, Huang Yiquan was busy putting up couplets outside his door, which was a tradition for Chinese people. He managed to get the couplets from friends and, good at calligraphy, he wrote the character Fu, which means blessing, and pasted it on the door as well.
"The Chinese New Year is very special this year," he said. "The pandemic is not over and we couldn't visit our friends. We have to celebrate by ourselves."
Not just Chinese people celebrated the festival.
Clinton Sheehan began celebrating the Chinese New Year two years ago along with his partner Ran Maoli. Their celebration was combined with both Chinese and Australian characteristics: dumplings and barbecue.
He said the fact that more Chinese people staying here rather than going back to China makes China Town very crowded this year. Although they could not get together with their relatives, he believed "less people, more close family, more love."
Talking about his new year wish, Sheehan said "lose weight", while Ran said "more income".
"I hope that everyone could stay healthy," said Li Jianjing in her traditional opera costume.
For her part, Peng Youmei looked forward to seeing an end of the pandemic. "I miss China as well as my relatives and friends there," she said. "I hope that I could go back soon." Enditem
