Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor hosted its 10th annual Lunar New Year celebration on February 11, 2024, attracting hundreds of visitors. The event featured a vibrant parade, traditional performances, and various cultural activities designed to engage families and children.
A procession opened the festivities, showcasing a line of colorful dragons followed by traditional waist drummers. Attendees enjoyed an array of performances, including musical and martial arts displays, presented by members of the Ann-Hua Chinese School, a leading institution in the region’s Chinese learning community. This annual celebration allows the local Chinese community to come together and share their rich culture and heritage.
Zhu Li, director of Ann-Hua’s Board of Directors, reflected on the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Even during the pandemic, we had a very small-scale celebration, but we didn’t miss that year,” Li noted in an interview. “Besides the mall celebration, we also collaborate with the Ann Arbor District Library, where we’ll be putting on a few performances and doing more arts and crafts this Saturday.”
Many attendees expressed appreciation for the opportunity to celebrate while away from their families. Angela Xu, a freshman at Skyline High School, shared her connection to her heritage through music. “It’s called the erhu. It’s a Chinese traditional instrument, and it has a thousand-year-long history. I love music, and I really want to be a musician. I think I will play it for the rest of my life,” Xu explained.
University of Michigan alum Alycia Pietrzak, who observed the performances, echoed similar sentiments. “My coworker went back to China on Thursday to visit her family and to celebrate the Lunar New Year,” she said. “I just think it’s super cool that people have the opportunity to celebrate here, too, because it’s expensive going back, and it’s not always practical for everyone.”
Li emphasized the importance of cultural exchange during the celebration. “A lot of international students here in our university come from cultures that celebrate this holiday, and it’s really difficult to be away from home when the holidays occur,” she stated. “So we feel really proud and happy to be able to present our culture and then bring a little sense of home to them, so they feel like they’re not that far away from the happy time their families are having right now.”
The Lunar New Year celebration at Briarwood Mall stands as a testament to the resilience and spirit of the Ann Arbor community, fostering connections and cultural appreciation amongst its diverse residents.
