Jonathan Chen, 5, of Bangor, worked on making a paper dragon Saturday during Lunar New Year celebrations in Cape Elizabeth. This year is the year of the Dragon, the only mythical creature in the Chinese zodiac. Bonnie Washak/Staff Writer
CAPE ELIZABETH — Surrounded by colorful decorations at Cape Elizabeth High School on Saturday, 5-year-old Jonathan Chen of Bangor focused on creating a paper dragon.
The aromas of orange chicken, gyoza, fried rice, and lo mein filled the cafeteria while others waited in a long line nearby.
Around the corner, classes were being held on Chinese language, history, medicine, and culture.
And in the auditorium, students from Boston’s Chinese Folk Arts Workshop performed a standing-room-only dragon dance in which teams moved beneath giant puppets of mythical creatures revered in Chinese culture and symbolizing good fortune, power, and happiness. It surprised the audience. strength. The girls also performed classical Chinese dances using swords and lanterns, and the boys showed off their drumming skills.
This was all to welcome the Year of the Dragon with the annual Lunar New Year celebration hosted by the Maine China-American Friendship Association.
CAFAM was formed more than 30 years ago by Mainers who were born in China, have Chinese heritage or are simply interested in China, said director Akau Ng.
Ng, a former president of CAFAM and former professor at the University of Southern Maine, said that while “some people have ties to China,” others don’t. Ng was born and raised in Malaysia, where Lunar New Year is celebrated with great fanfare, just like in China, South Korea and Vietnam.
The goal of the annual celebration and the Maine organization is to promote understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture, Ng said.
Barry Jackson of Saco is also one of those interested.
After retiring from his job as a Spanish professor, Jackson lived in China for four years to teach and learn.
“I studied Chinese in the morning and taught English in the afternoon,” he said. “I was treated so well in China that when I returned to Maine, I joined CAFAM because I felt I owed something.”
Living in China was “the most welcoming situation I’ve ever been in,” Jackson said. His friends often ate together and tried to do interesting things. “It’s been a wonderful four years.”
CAFAM president Bob Poole, who lives in Cumberland, said he joined the association because he too loves the country and culture.
“I wanted to be Chinese, but my mother failed,” Poole joked.
He remembers being fascinated as a young student watching President Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit to China on television. President Nixon’s visit marked the end of 25 years of isolation between the United States and China.
Students at Boston Drum’s Chinese Folk Arts Workshop on Saturday. Bonnie Washak/Staff Writer
Mr. Poole studied Chinese in college and then worked with Chinese experts at a bank in New York. He also lived in China for 12 years.
The CAFAM group is “fantastic,” Poole said. “It’s non-governmental. It’s local. Its purpose is culture. We find that when people are exposed to Chinese culture, they like it, enjoy it, and want to learn more. When you visit China, They’re going to love China. It’s a fascinating place.”
Those who participated on Saturday ranged in age from infants to the elderly. Many were Chinese American, but many were not.
Diane Chiaradonna of Sanford said she enjoyed the lectures about the country’s history, culture and politics.
South Portland residents Nelson Hu and his wife Claire Smaldon brought their daughter Amelia May, 3, wearing a bright red Chinese jacket.
From left: Nelson Hu and his wife, Claire Smaldon. Daughter Amelia, 3, of South Portland, will be attending Saturday’s Lunar New Year celebration. As the parent of a Chinese-American daughter, she said the couple was happy to have the opportunity to expose their daughter to this country’s culture. Bonnie Washak/Staff Writer
Mr. Fu, who is of Chinese-American descent, said he often attended large Lunar New Year celebrations in New York, which has a large Chinese-American community.
So it’s great to celebrate in Maine, he said.
“She’s proud to be half Chinese,” Smaldon said of her daughter. “We came here to celebrate.”
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