Wanneroo Times - Central Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Celebrate Year of Cat
WANNEROO Showground will come alive with the festivities, flavours and songs of ‘Tet’ on February 11 and 12 as the Vietnamese community ushers in the Lunar New Year.
It will be a chance for family and friends to unite in celebrating their cultural heritage, according to Vietnamese Community in WA organising committee chairman Andy Tran.
“We will have information and food stalls, games, rides and Vietnamese entertainers, including Queensland singer Son Ca and Australian Idol 2008 top 10 finalist Thanh Bui,” Mr Tran said.
“People often also wear traditional Vietnamese costume, such as women in the ‘ao dai’, like they would over there.”
The Vietnamese and Chinese new years start on February 3, with each year of the lunar zodiac associated with an animal.
All bar two are the same in both cultures, as the Vietnamese substitute a cat and goat for the Chinese rabbit and sheep.
“This year, the Year of the Cat, brings much prosperity so is a good time to try new things, such as expanding your business or building a new home,” Mr Tran said.
“The past year, the Year of the Tiger, was one where people tried to keep everything the same, to not make a move.”
The 2001 census showed the majority of Vietnamese people in WA lived in Stirling (25 per cent) and Wanneroo (21 per cent) local government areas, followed by Bayswater (14 per cent) and Swan (13 per cent).
“We used to hold the festival further south, until realising that most of the Vietnamese community now lives in the northern suburbs,” Mr Tran said.
The City of Wanneroo partsponsors the event.
The festival will be held from 6pm to 11pm on February 11 and 12 and Mr Tran said non-Vietnamese were welcome.
Han’s Cafe at Westfield Whitford City Shopping Centre will also welcome the lunar New Year, with a lion dance performance at 7.30pm on February 11.
 |
Festival chairman Andy Tran and Vietnamese Women’s Association vice-president Annie Tran. Picture: Will Russell www.communitypix.com.au d348856 |
