EDMONTON- The official start of the Chinese New Year is still a little over a week away, but hundreds of Edmontonians are ringing in the Year of the Monkey this weekend.
The Chinese Catholic Parish is hosting the 17th annual Chinese New Year Carnival. It features everything from Chinese food to drum and lion dancing as well as the famous Chinese red packets, a traditional symbol of good luck.
The Chinese calendar runs on a 12-year cycle, with each year representing a different zodiac animal. 2016 is the Year of the Monkey.
“We believe that people born in each year carry the characteristics of that animal,” Sandy Lai, a spokesperson for the event, explained. “The monkey is known to be a very clever, very intelligent little fellow, but also a little mischievous.”
Lai had this advice for those born under the sign: “If you have any monkey babies coming up- or if you have one on your hands – then you want to keep an eye on them. Make sure they don’t get too carried away!”
February 8 marks the officials start to the Chinese New Year.
This weekend’s free, public event runs until 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
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