The lion is one of the most iconic symbols of Lunar New Year festivities.

This Cinesound Newsreel clip, filmed in Sydney in 1937 (Year of the Ox), features a lion dance performance accompanied by drums and percussion. Captured in black-and-white, the footage suggests a world of vivid colour. The red of firecrackers. The rich sheen of a Chinese lion costume. In the bursts of sound and smoke are a familiar ritual that’s largely unchanged, designed to scare away evil spirits and usher in prosperity.

Possibly the earliest known film of Lunar New Year celebrations in Australia, the footage reflects the constancy of tradition: how migrants preserve culture to build community, connect with ancestors and wish each other good luck for the new year.