Xīnnián hǎo and Jínián jíxiáng! January 28th marks the beginning of a new year in the Chinese calendar, when the moon has orbited the Earth 13 times. So where in Nottingham can you celebrate the traditional Spring Festival?
progress, honour and integrity – this is what 2017 is expected to bring as it is the year of the Rooster.
In China preparations begin about a week before the event, with many people cleaning their homes and buying gifts in preparation to reunite with family, give red money envelopes to children, and put up decorations on the eve of New Year.
Then on the big day, sacrifices are offered to ancestors, people put on new clothes and watch the lion and dragon dances.
While celebrations are significantly smaller in the UK than in China, Nottingham’s ties to the city of Ningbo mean that there are plenty of celebrations across the city- here’s a roundup of what’s going on.
Beeston
Following Liberty Leisure’s decision to cancel Beeston’s Chinese New Year celebration due to a lack of staff, a meeting is being held in Beeston on January 11th to try and salvage the event through getting volunteers to help.
Old Market Square – January 21st
Nottingham City Council is holding a free Chinese New Year ‘extravaganza’ from 11am to 4pm.
It will include food stalls, traditional Chinese brush painting, story telling and the Chinese Dragon Dance.
Lakeside Arts – January 9th – February 12th
Nottingham Lakeside Arts are holding over a week’s worth of activities to celebrate the event.
The festivities will start with £7 Chinese brush painting lessons on January 18th, 19th, 25th and 26th by Jiang Hongsheng, an artist based in Nottingham’s twin city Ningbo.
There will also be a free exhibition in the Wallner Gallery from Yuan-Hsiung Wang and Xue Qian, from January 9th until February 12th.
On the 28th and 29th, Lakeside will hold ‘Jixiang (Propitious)’, a free show which takes place around the lake and will feature traditional and contemporary elements of China projected on the University of Nottingham’s Trent building.
Chin Chin – January 28th
Chin Chin in West Bridgford will include a new menu launch, discounted drinks prices and DJs among other Chinese entertainment.
OrientalMart – January 28th
The Hockley supermarket is holding a free celebration at their shop between 12.30pm and 4pm.
At 12.30pm, there will be a Lion Dance from MaBo Lion Dance Group.
The event will also host food tasting stalls from Fresh Asia Dumplings.
Theatre Royal Concert Hall – February 9th
The University of Nottingham’s Confucius Institute is presenting a £10 Chinese New Year Gala at Theatre Royal.
The two-hour show will be performed by The China Ethnic Song and Dance Ensemble, which has performed in more than 70 countries.
It will feature singers, musicians and dancers from across China.
