17 February 2010

Sheffield students celebrate Chinese New Year

Students and staff at the University of Sheffield are welcoming in the Year of the Tiger in a series of events across the city to celebrate Chinese New Year.

A city-wide gala celebrating Chinese culture and traditions, which took place at Sheffield City Hall on Tuesday 16 February 2010, saw students from the University hosting a series of stalls showcasing Chinese food, language and art. The main performance included a lion dance, Tibetan dancing, kungfu and acrobatics.

The event was organised by the Confucius Institute at the University of Sheffield, Sheffield City Council, the Sheffield Chinese Community Centre, the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, the Sheffield Chinese Christian Church and the Lai Yin Association.

At the gala, the top three entries from a Chinese art competition for schools, organised by the University´s Confucius Institute, were showcased. The pictures were chosen from over 1,000 pupils´ contributions, and picked by leader of Sheffield City Council Paul Scriven at the Annual Yorkshire and Humber Chinese New Year Dinner, which was held at Sheffield United on Thursday 11 February 2010.

Student societies are also holding their own events to celebrate the New Year, including the Hong Kong Society which is holding an event, in conjunction with the Cooking Society, to help teach people how to cook traditional Chinese food.

Angus Luk, President of the Hong Kong Society said: "As a national society it is our duty and an honour to organise these group events, not only for the benefit of our members but also it is a great opportunity for people in Sheffield to learn more about Chinese traditions."

Alex Erdlenbruch, International Officer at the University of Sheffield Union of Students, said: "Our Students' Union is delighted to see our Chinese student membership celebrate Chinese New Year again this year. Chinese students make up the largest single national group of our overseas student population and it is only fitting that they would hold such a large scale celebration.

Dr Sarah Dauncey, from the University´s Confucius Institute, said that: "Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it is also known, is no doubt the most important holiday not just in China, but possibly much of East Asia. Running from the eve of the lunar new year to the Lantern Festival sixteen days later, its duration and significance in the Chinese calendar can be likened to a combination of our Christmas and New Year.

"It is a time of family reunion and remembrance, a time for giving thanks for the old year and anticipating the new, a time for parties and firecrackers, and, perhaps more importantly for children at least, a time for receiving gifts of little red packets filled with New Year´s money!"