On February 15, beneath a bright and generous winter sun, the District in Chilliwack came alive with colour, drums and delighted laughter. Although Lunar New Year officially begins on February 17 this year – marked by the first new moon between January 21 and February 20 – the District gathered the community a few days early for a joyful weekend celebration.
At the heart of the festivities was the traditional lion dance and the beloved ritual known as Choy Cheng, or “lettuce eating.” Festivities for Lunar New Year span 15 days, celebrating renewal, family and good fortune. In this ritual, the lion brings blessings of prosperity for the year ahead.
The lion – bright, expressive and full of personality – danced its way through the District’s winding alleys, guided by rhythmic drumming that echoed between storefronts. Spectators of all ages followed along, smiling and lifting phones to capture each playful bow and dramatic blink.
Thirteen participating businesses joined the celebration: PickEco Apothecary, The Love Chapter, Witchy Boo, Magnolia & Oak, Sol Smoothie Bar, Spruce Collective, Voila Lash & Beauty, Smoking Gun Coffee Roasters, Field House, Uptown Grill, Hunni’s Boutique, Hugo’s Mexican Kitchen and Azzurri Italian Pasticceria. At each stop, shop owners presented the lion with a head of lettuce concealing a red envelope.
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The ritual is rich with symbolism. The lion “eats” the lettuce – a word that sounds like “wealth” in Cantonese – then scatters the greens back toward the business and the crowd. The red envelope tucked inside represents good fortune. Together, the gesture shares prosperity with everyone present. Lettuce fluttered through the air like celebratory confetti, and no one minded catching a leafy blessing or two.
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