Free Admission
Saturday, January 14, 2023
1:00 - 5:00 PM
Jenkins Auditorium, Malden High School
77 Salem Street, Malden, MA 02148
2023 Malden Lunar New Year Celebration
for the Year of the Rabbit
2023年摩顿市“华夏之春”新春联欢会
On January 14, 2023, we concluded our first annual event of the year, the 2023 Malden Lunar New Year Celebration. After three years of turbulent circumstances, we were finally able to present this event in person. Our team was delighted to have the opportunity to bring together hundreds of local residents and many local businesses from diverse cultural backgrounds to share in the festive spirit characteristic of this time of year.
Group photo featuring some of the performers of the day, Malden mayor Gary Christenson, U.S. Postal Services Manager of Malden Branch Jeffrey Carter, Executive Director of the Chinese Culture Connection Mei Hung, award-winning artist Santon, and Malden Reads' Linda Zalk. Photography by Fen Zhang
A spectacular lion dance performance by Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy set the festive mood, and our Executive Director Mei Hung was joined by Malden mayor Gary Christenson to officially open the event.
Mei Hung, Executive Director of the Chinese Culture Connection, delivered the opening remarks, and Malden mayor Gary Christenson extended warm greetings.
Photography by Fen Zhang
A spectacular lion dance performance by Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy provided an inspiring start to the event.
Photography by Ethan Chen
The nearly four-hour celebration featured 20+ performing groups and individuals from across the Greater Boston Area. A major highlight was Thousand Hands Guanyin, a large-scale dance performed by the Boston Chinese United Dance Group, whose members range in age from eight to eighty. Together, they harnessed the power of dance to raise awareness of the importance of goodwill and selflessness in today's society.
Large-Scale Performance Thousand Hands Guanyin by the Boston Chinese United Dance Group.
Photography by Ethan Chen (left) & Fen Zhang (right)
Some highlights of the 2023 Malden Lunar New Year Celebration (1. Mirabel Weston, youngest performer of the day; 2. Chinese Culture Connection’s Multi Arts Performance Troupe; 3. Zhiming Zhao, art teacher at the Chinese Culture Connection's Little Dragon After-School Program; 4. Traditional Chinese Fashion Show by Yuqing Graceworks; 5. Children's dance by BCDG; 6. Erhu teacher Zhantao Lin with his students; 7. David Zhang). Photography by Ethan Chen & Fen Zhang
There were also performances by students from our Chinese Language School and Little Dragon After-School Program that provided a special touch.
Students from the Chinese Culture Connection's Chinese Language School and Little Dragon After-School Program showcased their talent.
Photography by Ethan Chen (left) & Fen Zhang (right)
Our event also included an award ceremony for the COVID Coping Strategy Contest, a collaborative effort between Malden Reads and us. Linda Zalk, the mother of Malden Reads, joined Mei to announce the awardees. Santon, an award-winning pianist born blind, made a special appearance. He was invited to perform a selection of original compositions that portray the wide spectrum of emotions he experienced during the pandemic. As well as being technically impressive, his performance was characterized by a great deal of boldness and joy, which generated much enthusiasm and enjoyment among audience members.
Left: A speech was delivered by Linda Zalk of Malden Reads at the award ceremony for the COVID Coping Strategy Contest.
Photography by Ethan Chen. Right: Special Appearance by Santon, an award-winning pianist born blind. Photography by Ethan Chen
Each year, our celebration serves as a platform for the unveiling of the U.S. Postal Service's Lunar New Year stamp series. "We had the distinct pleasure of having U.S. Postal Service Manager of Malden Branch Jeffrey Carter present to unveil the Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit Forever stamp," said Mei, our Executive Director. "I can't thank Jeff and USPS enough for helping us keep this tradition alive."
Malden mayor Gary Christenson and U.S. Postal Service Manager of Malden Branch Jeffrey Carter conducted the unveiling ceremony for the Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit Forever stamp. Photography by Fen Zhang
Outside the auditorium, our audience enjoyed the Chinese arts and crafts activities and display tables set up by some of our sponsors and supporters. Many families received vaccinations at the COVID-19 vaccination clinic, which was held in conjunction with our celebration.
Chinese arts and crafts activities and display tables outside the auditorium attracted a substantial number of visitors (1: Anmin He writing spring festival couplets; 2. Bingrun Liang, dough figurine artist; 3. display table of Oom Yung Doe New England; 4. display table of Mystic Valley YMCA; 5. display table of Fantuan Delivery). Photography by Fen Zhang
“We at the CCC share one common goal: to strive for the wellbeing and happiness of our people. Our mission to serve the Asian community in Malden will remain unchanged in the Year of the Rabbit. And we'll work hard to accomplish everything we set out to do."
Mei Hung, Executive Director
Our 2023 Malden Lunar New Year Celebration was made possible by the South Cove Community Health Center, My Little Best Friends Early Learning Center, Mystic Valley YMCA, Fantuan Delivery, and Malden City Councilor-at-Large Karen Colón Hayes. Thank you to all the volunteers from Malden High School's Asian Cultural Club and Key Club for making the event run smoothly.
About Our Annual Lunar New Year Celebration
As with Christmas and Thanksgiving in American culture, Asian communities celebrate Lunar New Year as their most significant and most festive holiday of the year. It is for this reason, as well as the growing Asian population of Malden, that the CCC began hosting the Lunar New Year Celebration in 2010.
From its inception, the event has been more than just a celebration of Chinese arts and culture across time and space. It provides a unique opportunity to establish cross-cultural friendships, improve cross-cultural communication, and convey love and affection across cultural boundaries. A highlight of Malden’s annual calendar, it attracts hundreds of people of all ages and backgrounds. Every year, those from the Chinese community participate with pride as they share their heritage, along with their identity and lived experiences. Over the past few years, there has also been a growing representation of other Asian cultures at this event.
Event Sponsors from the Past
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Malden City Councilor-at-Large Karen Colón Hayes
Massachusetts State Representative Steve Ultrino