New Year celebrations for Chinese students

International students saw in the Chinese New Year at Edge Hill University with an event to mark the tradition.

The most important Chinese festival took place on Monday 23^rd January and students from the Chinese Society wanted to make sure they welcomed in the year of the dragon with a day to remember.

The society celebrated with a show of a traditional Chinese performance, a prize draw, Chinese snacks such as spring rolls and jaio-zi dumplings, a variety of green tea and decorating the venue with red lanterns and New Year scrolls.  

Dichen Cui, a member of the Chinese Society at Edge Hill said: “The Chinese New Year is the greatest traditional festival in China. We celebrated this event with a number of activities, such as writing people’s names in Chinese characters using calligraphy and by also taking the opportunity to introduce not only Chinese traditional culture but also the economic and social development in China. We really enjoyed promoting communication and cooperation with the other international and local students and sharing the joy of the festival with others.

“We are lucky to study in the UK. It is a desirable chance for us not only to study, but to also experience a different culture. We cherish the chance and enjoy life in Edge Hill University. All the teachers and students have been kind and helpful to us and we have made many new friends here.”

The Chinese New Year originated through the ancient Shang Dynasty, from the people's sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one. Unlike the British New Year, it does not fall on the same day of each year due to China following the lunisolar calendar, which is based on the moon phases and the time of the solar year.