On 22 February, I joined the Australian Chinese Buddhist Society to celebrate Lunar New Year and welcome the Year of the Horse at the Mingyue Lay Temple. Lunar New Year is the most important celebration in the Chinese cultural calendar. It is a time for reflection, renewal and hope, when families and communities gather to honour traditions and share wishes for health, prosperity and harmony. The spirit of the celebration was felt most around the tables. Volunteers and cooks worked tirelessly, serving a constant stream of delicious dishes, including vegetarian pork belly. The plates kept coming, the tables stayed full, and we all left very well fed. That generosity reflected the warmth and hospitality that sits at the heart of these celebrations. Events like this bring people together and offer a wonderful opportunity to experience the richness of Chinese culture through food, tradition and community. My thanks to James Chan, Vincent Kong and the incredible cooks for organising such a memorable celebration.