Lion dancers, preschoolers, seniors and members of a local martial arts club presented performances Saturday in a celebration of the Lunar New Year at a community center in Dorchester — the first time the nonprofit Vietnamese-American Initiative for Development, or VietAID, held the event since the beginning of the pandemic.
The joyous fete celebrated Tết Nguyên Đán, the Vietnamese New Year. It’s just one of several festivals, parades and celebrations held by Asian communities across the state over the new two weeks.
Many activists say the celebrations are particularly poignant now that Asian American and Pacific Islander communities are facing increased hate and discrimination across the country following targeting in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We experienced so much as a community, and we’re just so happy to be back in the swing of things, celebrating and in community with one another,” said George Huynh, executive director of the the Vietnamese-American Initiative for Development, also known as VietAID. “But this threat, this rise in hate crimes, is still prevalent. In addition to all the positive things, we want to make sure we do shine a line on the negative impacts that our community has faced and continues to face today.”
Many Lunar New Year celebrations included the traditions of multiple communities, including traditional Chinese lion dance parades, Mongolian communities celebrating Tsagaan Sar and Korean Seollal traditions. A Saturday gala at Boston City Hall, held by the New England Chinese American Alliance, included performances by Japanese singers and Korean dancers.
“Everyone is welcome, and every year we invite members of other local communities, like the Latino community and Black community, to join us,” Alliance president Gary Yu said. “All are invited to share in our traditions and culture and good food.”
Huynh says it’s significant that VietAID’s celebration…
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