Kung Hei Fat Choi East Midlands!
That’s “Happy New Year!” in Cantonese to you and me. Having spent a summer studying and travelling across China and Hong Kong, the lavishly colourful Chinese New Year celebrations send me on a trip down memory lane, back to the mouth-watering cuisine and fascinating ancient traditions, not to mention the wonderfully kind people I befriended along the way.
Luckily many cities across the East Midlands Trains network, particularly London, Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester and Liverpool, boast vibrant Chinese communities and play host to the explosion of parades, dragon dancing, acrobatics and delicious food that mark Chinese New Year. And this year’s free street celebrations are set to be bigger and better than ever, so if you’ve never taken part before, now is the perfect time to experience your first Chinese New Year.
Ancient traditions: Chinese New Year in the East Midlands
In China, New Year is an important time for families to gather and celebrate a new beginning. The preparation of extravagant meals and sweets is thought to appease the kitchen gods, while firecrackers—which are so popular in Beijing that it sounds like the city is under siege over the holiday—are thought to drive off evil spirits. On New Year’s Day, children receive a hong bao—lucky red envelopes containing gifts or money. Everyone dresses up in special clothes and is on their best behaviour as it’s considered bad luck to shout, lie, swear or even break anything on this sacred day.
The Year of the Rabbit: Chinese New Year in the East Midlands
The Chinese New Year officially rings in on 3 February this year, which marks the first day of the Year of the Rabbit. As one of the luckiest signs in the Chinese Zodiac, children hopping into the world in 2011 are said to be marked for a life of financial fortune. You’ll also fall under this sign if you were born in past rabbit years including 1999, 1987, 1975 and 1963, and be in good company with famous rabbits such as Whitney Houston, John Cleese and Ingrid Bergman.
Chinese New Year in the East Midlands: What’s on in…
London
The capital city’s celebrations are the most elaborate outside of China. This year, they take place on Sunday, 6 February, from noon until the early evening, in Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and Shaftesbury Avenue. Over 250,000 joined in the merriment last year, which saw the city taken over by huge dancing puppet parades, martial arts displays, dragon and lion dances, performances from visiting Chinese artists and stalls and marquees offering oriental culinary delights.
Nottingham
Beginning on 6 February, the month-long celebrations at Nottingham’s Lakeside Arts Centre will feature the return of Chinese choreographer, dancer and teacher Rong Tao, who will be leading creative workshops in the community. Traditional folk songs, lion and dragon dances and New Year songs and dance from the Nottingham Chinese School feature on the launch night’s bill, as well as such attractions as rickshaw rides, a dragon boat, Chinese Zodiac pyramid lanterns and an exhibition of paintings by Cathy Wu. The festivities culminate with an outdoor gala at Highfields Park with stage performances from 5pm and a spectacular fireworks finale at 6.30pm.
Sheffield
Sheffield City Hall will be turned into a mini Far East to play host to the city’s New Year celebrations on Monday, 7 February. Doors open at 5pm for an array of acrobats, dancers and food stalls, with performances between 7pm and 9pm from the highly regarded Gansu Provincial Ensemble of Song and Dance from Northwest China and the Sheffield Chinese Women and Children group. Tickets cost £7 on the door for adults, with £5 concessions for students, senior citizens and children under 12s.
Manchester
The New Year will be rung in with style on Sunday, 6 February in Manchester’s Chinatown and Albert Square. The free outdoor event kicks off at 11am and will feature dragon and lion dances, parades, award-winning acrobatics, martial arts, music and folk dance. Hundreds of street stands will include free tastings, arts and crafts, jewellery, food and art workshops for children. The evening ends with a spectacular fireworks display at 6pm.
Liverpool
Liverpool’s Chinese community, one of the oldest in Europe, will gather on Sunday 6 February for a fun-filled celebration for the whole family. The traditional Lion, Dragon and Unicorn Parade takes place from 11.30am to 3pm on Nelson Street, around the tallest Chinese Arch outside mainland China, while the Taste of China Sunday Market runs from 11am to 4pm on Great George Street. Also look out for a firecracker display at 1pm at Great George Square and funfairs and activities for children in the area.
