We would like to wish all staff and students at DMU a happy Chinese New Year.
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is a vibrant celebration to welcome luck and prosperity for the new year.
Taking place on Wednesday 29 January, celebrations last for 16 days and culminate with a Lantern Festival on Wednesday 12 February 2025, where glowing paper lanterns are released into the sky.
In Chinese tradition, each year is linked to an animal from the Chinese zodiac. There are 12 zodiac animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey Rooster, Dog and Pig. The order of the years of zodiac signs are said to be based on a folk tale known as the Great Race, where the Jade Emperor invited a series of animals to participate and they were placed in the order they finished in the race.
This year is the year of the snake, the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac. Characteristics of people born in the year of the Snake include cautious, introverted observers, cool and mysterious. The year of the Snake also fell on 2013, 2001, 1989, and 1977, with the next Snake year in 2037.
Each culture celebrates the Chinese New Year differently with various foods and traditions that symbolise prosperity, abundance and togetherness.
To celebrate, people put up decorations, put on new clothes, spend time with loved ones, set off fireworks, visit a temple, enjoy delicious food, and gift envelopes containing money.
The DMU Confucius Institute
The Confucius Institute at DMU (DMU CI) is a vibrant celebration of Chinese language and culture, providing an insight for students, staff and the wider community. It was co-founded by the University of Science and Technology in Beijing, the Chinese partner university of DMU CI.
They’ll be hosting Chinese New Year celebrations from the Highcross in Leicester:
Saturday 1 February, 1-6pm – live performances and workshops
Sunday 2 February – 2.30pm – Lion Dance DMU, 3-4.30pm – procession through city centre, 4.30pm – spectacular finale at Town Hall Square
Happy Chinese New Year to all who are celebrating.
Posted on Friday 24 January 2025