Oakland Museum of California Celebrates Lunar New Year!
Year of the Pig Festivities Sunday, February 18, 2007

Photo: Audrey Luke.

The Oakland Museum of California kicks off the 2007 Lunar New Year Festival—Year of the Pig—on Sunday, February 18, from 1 to 5 p.m. Some believe it’s the “Year of the Golden Pig,” which occurs once every 600 years.

In its seventh annual Lunar New Year celebration, the museum presents an afternoon of family activities: lion and dragon dancing, mochi pounding and tasting with Kagami Kai, and a Japanese tea ceremony hosted by Yoshie Akiba.

Performances by the Red Panda Chinese Acrobats, Magic Man Dan Chan and Kat the Acrobat, Dharma Realm Chinese Orchestra, Cambodian and Vietnamese dancers, the Korean Youth Cultural Center drummers, and the Hei Gu Chinese Percussion Ensemble (students from Skyline and Oakland High).

The museum will also offer a demonstration of Himalayan papermaking, a wonton wrapping class, an Artists’ Marketplace, and food vendors. Authors Oliver Chin, Vangie Cononizado Buell, and William Wong will read and sign their books. All activities are included with museum admission.

Photo: Audrey Luke.

The 2007 Lunar New Year officially begins February 18, and is marked with special decorations, dance, and foods symbolic of long life, fertility, and prosperity. The 12-year animal zodiac calendar is part of most Asian cultures.

Those born in the Year of the Pig are honest, thoughtful, and blessed with patience. “It’s better to give than to receive” might be the Pig’s motto. People born under the sign of the Pig enjoy all life has to offer.

The program is presented in collaboration with DEAF and the support of the Chevron Corporation and Whole Foods Market.

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