North Hills residents can celebrate Chinese New Year at the Ross Park Mall on Saturday with a variety of performances, food and other activities focusing on Chinese culture.
The free event in the mall’s Center Court runs from 1 to 3 p.m.
There will be colorful performances by the Yanlai Dance Academy, Win-Win Kung Fu Culture Center and Xiaobo/Joy Dance Group — including kung fu and lion dance demonstrations.
Guests are invited to watch the performances, sample Chinese dishes, practice their calligraphy skills or take photos in front of Chinese New Year backdrops.
New Year is one of the most important Chinese holidays and is marked by family gatherings, activities to honor ancestors, lavish meals and the hope for luck and good fortune in the year to come.
The Chinese calendar is based on a repeating 12-year cycle with each year represented by an animal in the Chinese zodiac.
This year the Chinese are celebrating the Year of the Pig. In Chinese culture, pigs are the symbol of wealth and their chubby faces and big ears are a symbol of of fortune.
Tony LaRussa is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tony at 724-772-6368 or tlarussa@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TonyLaRussaTrib.
