The Karen New Year 2756 celebration in Werribee, Victoria, was held on 29 December 2016 at Werribee Baptist Church, with more than 500 people attending. Karen New Year is celebrated each year on the first day of the month of Pyathoe (Th'lay in S'gaw Karen, Htike Kauk Po in Pwo Karen) in the Karen calendar. It is an occasion to share the richness of Karen cultural traditions.
Music and dance play a vital role in Karen culture, and both featured throughout the day. The programme included Don dance performances by AKO Youth and AKP (Australian Karen Preserving) Youth, and a bamboo dance by Geelong Youth. Geelong Youth also performed a song about the importance of Karen unity. Special guest Mr Eh Mwee, a singer from Melbourne, performed "Welcome to Aussie", a song about the coming together of Karen and Australian cultures.
A Karen culture show displayed traditional clothing and baskets, highlighting the craftsmanship of each handmade piece. Students of the Karen language school received awards for a poetry competition on the theme of Karen New Year, and a Karen New Year soccer tournament featured teams from across Victoria.
The Karen women's group prepared traditional Karen food, which was served by AKO Youth at the end of the celebration.
The event was organised to ensure that, wherever Karen people live, their traditions are passed on to future generations.
