The Peel Multicultural Association will host a Chinese New Year celebration on February 14 at Mandjar Square in Mandurah, marking the Year of the Horse. The event, running from 9.30am to 2pm, is free and open to the public.
According to the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the traditional lunar festival begins with the New Moon on February 17 and concludes with the next full moon on March 3. The Year of the Horse, also known as the Fire Horse, last occurred in 2014, 2002, and 1990. As the seventh animal in the 12-year cycle, the Horse symbolises vitality, speed, and perseverance.
Attendees can participate in traditional lantern and origami crafts, join a multicultural dance workshop, and watch a Chinese lion dance. The event has been held annually since 2018.
Association president Virginia Pitts said the celebration helps locals learn about Chinese culture while providing a sense of home for Chinese residents. “Coming here can be very isolating, so to have this space and this purpose has been life-changing,” she said. Pitts emphasised the importance of promoting cultural diversity, adding, “They don’t have to go to China to experience it. They can experience the grandeur of Chinese New Year first-hand here in Mandurah.”
Mandurah Mayor Amber Kearns praised the community’s embrace of multiculturalism. “Events like Chinese New Year bring people together and shine a light on the many cultures and stories that make up our amazing city,” she said.
