Happy Chinese New Year!

27 January 2017

Celebrate Chinese New Year with us and find out what's going on in and around our cities over the festive period!

Happy Chinese New Year everyone! It’s the start of the New Year in China and in the 20^th century this was renamed as the Spring Festival. This is a hugely celebrated festival in Chinese communities around the world and is considered the most important holiday in their calendar.

Traditionally based on the solar and lunar Chinese calendars, this popular holiday is centuries old and has many traditions, myths and customs! Originally, it was a family holiday and a time to honour ancestors, household and gods. Traditions include having all decorations in red, as the colour red is seen to warn off bad luck and every door and window is to be left open at midnight, so the old year can be let out.

This year the Chinese New Year celebrations fall on Saturday 28th January, and is the year of the Rooster!Each year is related to an animal sign according to a 12-year cycle and the years of the Rooster include: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, and 2029. You can find out more about your Chinese zodiac here.

 

 

 

Chinese New Year events in our cities:

If you’re interested in getting involved in the Chinese New Year but you’re unsure what’s going on in the cities around you, then we’ve gathered up some information so you don’t miss out! Check out what’s going on in:

NEWCASTLE: On Sunday 29^th January between 11am-4pm, there will be Chinese inspired events and performances. If you head to Stowell Street, home to Newcastle’s Chinatown, that’s where the majority of the festivities will be taking place. There will also be a stage on Bath Lane, and a Chinese Market, children’s marquee and fairground on Thornton Square. There will be dragon and lion dancers, traditional music and dancing, plus a funfair and market stalls featuring traditional arts and crafts and Chinese food, yum!

NOTTINGHAM: There is an outdoor event, so make sure you wrap up, it’s free but booking is essential and it’s suitable for all ages to attend. Go and see a spectacular world premiere as Nottingham-based digital artist Barret Hodgson transforms the University’s iconic Trent Building into a beautiful digital canvas. He will illuminate the south side of the building beside the lake, with projections which capture contemporary and traditional elements of Chinese art and culture, including Jiang Hongsheng’s signature peony brush painting and music from Ling Peng. Meet at the DH Lawrence Pavilion with your ticket and you’ll be led by the CSSA Dragon dancers round the lake-side path to see the show, from its special viewing area beside the lake at the Stone Lions opposite the Trent Building. As mentioned above, the event is free and you can book your tickets here. Nottingham Two are holding a Chinese New Year party on the 30^th January, so go along for some festive fun!

 

 

 

GLASGOW: Kung Hei Fat Choy are Chinese New Year Celebrations in Glasgow Museum Resource Centre. These celebrations will be hosted on 14^th February so you can tie in Valentine’s Day too. The event is for children, teenagers and families and the event will include calligraphy, making Chinese lanterns and also traditional New Year ceremonies and rituals.

SHEFFIELD: At theSheffield Hallam University, City Campus Owen Building – 12^th Floor 30^th January 5.30pm-7pm is free entry and there will be a Chinese Dragon, a selfie station which you will probably have to queue up for, a swanky cocktail master class and Chinese dumplings. There will also be bubble tea (click the link to find out what this is!) fortune cookies and performances to keep you entertained.  There’s also festivities going on in Sheffield City Hall on Tuesday 31^st January 4pm – 5:45pm in the Ball Room (pre-show is free admission) and from 7pm – 8:45pm in the main hall which is a performance for students where pre-booked tickets are £5 but if you pay on the day it’s £6 a ticket.

DERBY: So far there’s no big celebrations in the city centre but you can expect Derby's Chinese restaurants, such as The New Water Margin in Burton Road, to hold special celebrations. In 2016 they held a party night with a feast of Chinese food, the traditional lion dance and close-up magic. The Excelsior Chinese restaurant in Becket Street will also be open as usual on January 28^th and people are welcome to join them in the thick of things to see in the New Year.

 

Let us know what your plans are for the Chinese New Year and tag us in photos on your day and night celebrations on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag ‘DSChineseNewYear’ to show us!