Annual celebration started as a small gathering and has grown annually
It started as a small celebration recognizing the Lunar New Year.
More than a decade ago, a modest group gathered at the Brandon Senior Center, 612 N Parsons Ave., Brandon, FL 33510, for the annual celebration recognized throughout Asia. The Lutz Senior Center also hosted a Lunar New Year celebration this year.
In recent years, the celebration has blossomed, featuring traditional Asian music, dancing, and food with clients, staff, guests, and participants in traditional clothes. And some of the clients at the Brandon Senior Center represented their homelands.
Bach Pent has attended the Brandon Senior Center for 15 years.
The Brandon resident has seen the Lunar New Year celebration grow and become an annual celebration at the center. Last year, she dressed as an Asian queen. This year, she dressed as an Asian princess.
"It means a lot to me," said Pent, who was born and raised in Vietnam. "It makes people happy. That's wonderful."
Pent attends the Brandon Senior Center on a daily basis. She enjoys socializing, playing board games, and spending time with friends.
The Lunar New Year celebration at the center fills her with pride as she watches other people enjoy themselves.
"Everybody enjoys our culture, the performances, and artists," Pent said. "People know what the celebration of the Lunar New Year means to our culture."
The Lunar New Year celebration at the Brandon Senior Center - which was celebrated Feb. 5 - began with a special march into the facility. Men and women dressed in traditional clothes were led by a yellow dragon that shifted and turned with acrobatic moves. A drummer banged a traditional drum, a firecracker sound popped multiple times, and the audience stood, clapped, and cheered. The celebration continued with dances, a harp performance, Tai Chi, a cone hat balancing dance, and an Asian fashion show.
"It is a celebration of an upcoming year, and to wish prosperity, good wealth, and good health for everyone," said Ni Pham, who is the 2024 Ms. Asia Pacific of Tampa Bay.
Pham was born and raised in Michigan. Her family is from Vietnam. She attended the Lunar New Year celebration at Brandon Senior Center as a guest. What she witnessed was spectacular.
"I enjoyed seeing everybody come together and seeing so many people from different backgrounds come together to celebrate such a beautiful event," said Pham, who lives in Hillsborough County.
Thuam Le attends the Wimauma Senior Center. For the second year, she made her way to the Brandon Senior Center to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Just over a year ago Le moved from Georgia to Wimauma to be closer to friends and the water.
Seeing the room decorated, the different performances, and people dressed in traditional clothes, Le was thrilled.
"It brings me close to home," said Le, who has lived longer in the United States than in Vietnam. "It brings tears to my eyes when I see this. It brings back a lot of memories and togetherness.
"There are Vietnamese people, other Asians, and other Americans here," she continued. "We all get together and enjoy it. The celebration is important, so we remember our culture and where we came from."