Happy Chinese New Year! - Burgess parkrun #505 - 10/02/24

Stephanie helping everyone celebrate teh Chinese New Year

One of the great things about Burgess parkrun is the sense of community and diversity of attendees. It's the true magic of multiculturalism and none more so than today when Stephanie Siu, of Chinese descent, regular runner, volunteer and part of the Burgess parkrun ‘banana crew’, encouraged us to celebrate the Chinese New Year with her and 1.4 billion Chinese people in China and many Chinese people around the world. 

Attendence was up from last week. Photo by Geffrey Ochieng

It is well published that many people quit their New Year’s resolutions, made on 1st January a few weeks in, however for those in need of reigniting their motivation how about a second New Year celebration to get you fired-up! This week the number of participants was up from 681 last week to 771 today.

With a table of fortune cookies, books on Chinese words, red goodie bags (meant to convey good luck) and dragons, Stephanie shared her culture with us and I felt so much richer for that. 

Based on the lunisolar calendar the Chinese New Year usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. Other countries in East and Central Asia including Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam also celebrate this new moon with the celebration being called the Lunar New Year. 

According to many myths, the Jade Emperor held a race to establish the order of animals in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The dragon was the 5th animal to cross the finish line and 10/02/24 marks the beginning of a Wood Dragon year.

Being on parkwalk duties I happily gave New Year greetings to the runners as they passed me with many not knowing about the table of delight and discovery that awaited them at the end. 

Stephanie explained she will be taking her table of history, joy and dragons to Kennington Junior parkrun tomorrow, to share the important occasion with them too. 

Happy Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year to you all, may the year of the Wood Dragon be good to us.