Both Chinese and Korean people are celebrating the Lunar New Year. This is a three day festival for Koreans called Seollal. The Chinese New Year is the start of the Spring Festival. It finishes with the Lantern Festival 15 days later.

For Chinese and Koreans this is an important holiday. It is a time for families to meet together and eat together. Those who are living in New Zealand meet and share food with other Chinese or Korean friends.

Some cities in New Zealand celebrate the Chinese New Year. Wellington celebrations start on January 31st with children’s entertainment at Capital E. Saturday and Sunday, 7th and 8th February, Wellington city will hold a street parade and a concert in Frank Kitts Park. They will have firecrackers, lion dancing, puppets and Wu opera. Auckland will hold a Lantern Festival in Albert Park that same weekend, which will include a show of martial arts. The Christchurch Lantern Festival is 14th and 15th February, on the banks of the River Avon in Victoria Square. Not only are there beautiful lanterns, but also food stalls and a stage with performers from China.

New Zealanders enjoy these festivals. Thousands of people attend the celebrations.