MOOSE JAW — The Chinese Lunar New Year was celebrated under a canopy of vibrant red, the rhythmic beating of traditional drums, and several presentations to mark the beginning of the Year of the Snake at the Town ‘N’ Country Mall on Jan. 25.
The celebration also marked an historical moment as the mall hosted the New Year celebration for the first time in its history.
“Lunar New Year is the biggest holiday in China, and it’s important that you’re out there celebrating and trying to bring good luck and prosperity (to yourself and your family),” said Jonathan Shiplack, a Hung Kuen Association member who wrapped up his martial arts performance moments earlier.
The occasion was celebrated with a Lion Dance Extravaganza and Kung Fu performances by the Regina-based Canadian Hung Kuen Association, as well as calligraphy workshops, giveaways, and free food and drinks provided courtesy of Alice Asian Superstore General Merchandise Inc.
“We opened originally in May 1985, and we’ve been doing performances for the Lunar New Year since then,” Shiplack said about Hung Kuen. “It’s actually our 40th anniversary this year.”
The Canadian Hung Kuen Association had been performing at the Victoria Square Mall in Regina for years now and was invited to Moose Jaw on behalf of the Pioneer Thinking Capital Corporation, which owns both malls as of January 2024.
The association demonstrated hung gar, a traditional Shaolin martial art known for its strength, precision, and health benefits. Made popular by such films as “The Drunken Master” and “36 Chambers of Shaolin,” hung gar balances combat skills with conditioning, using techniques like empty hand forms and heavy weapons for strength building.
Hung gar embodies the Chinese principle of yin and yang and teaches both self-defence and healing with roots in traditional martial and medicinal practices.
“I was using a large weapon called guan dao and it’s named after a really important patron saint of martial arts called General Guan Yu,” Shiplack shared. “He’s part of the Three Kingdoms story, which is an original Chinese novel (about) the original division and separation of the different (Chinese) states (from 220 to 280 CE)… And so, every martial arts school will typically use that… (to honour) what he represents.”
The martial arts demonstration was preceded by the traditional Chinese Dragon Dance performance. Two dragons and a Big-Headed Buddha dazzled the crowd as they intricately moved throughout the main hallways followed by a drumming group. The Buddha donned a mask and yellow robe and guided the dragons with playful and symbolic movements meant to bring joy and good fortune in the new year.
The snake is the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac and symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and calmness — qualities rooted in its clever placement during the mythological Jade Emperor’s legendary race.
Known for their strategic nature and introspection, those born in the Year of the Snake are advised to wear red in 2025 to ward off misfortune, as challenges this year are believed to be opportunities for growth and to cultivate greater wisdom.
For more information about the Canadian Hung Kuen Association call 1-306-551-2203 or visit FUHOK.com.
The Town ‘N’ Country Mall is located at 1235 Main Street North and is open Monday to Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. For the latest announcements on new developments at the mall visit ‘Town N Country Mall’ on Facebook.
