Celebrate Chinese New Year in Exeter

A spectacular dancing dragon, a stunning firework display and traditional Chinese crafts, food and games will all feature when the University of Exeter invites everyone to join in a celebration of Chinese New Year.

Everyone is welcome to join staff and students from across the world in welcoming in 2016, the Year of the Monkey on the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.

In China, it is known as the "Spring Festival" and marks the end of the winter season. The University of Exeter will be celebrating the Chinese New Year on Saturday 13 February in Exeter city centre and on the Streatham Campus.

At 1pm the Dragon and Lion dancers will parade through the city, starting in Buffet City, on George Street, ending at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM), on Queen Street. The parade continues at The Forum, Streatham Campus at 3pm, where there is also a Chinese Market, food, martial arts demonstrations, performances and activities for everyone. The biggest Chinese celebrations in the city will feature a firework display at 6.30pm which can be viewed from the back of the Xfi Building on the Streatham Campus.

Yuhang Qi is a third year BSC Mathematics student and the President of the University’s Chinese Society. He said: “Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, has more than 4,000 years of history. It is the grandest and the most important annual event for Chinese people. Being one of the traditional festivals, it is the time for the whole families to reunite together, which is similar with Christmas Day in the UK.

“During the Chinese New Year, we like eating dumplings and watching New Year’s TV shows with families. However, it’s tough for us to be thousands miles away from our families at this time of the year. For those away from home, like me, it’s a welcome stroke of luck when New Year’s Eve falls on a weekend. The Chinese New Year Market on Saturday is a great chance for us to get together and share our joy and culture with the local community. This certainly makes our celebration in the UK much more meaningful.”

The celebrations are presented by the Chinese Student Scholars Association (CSSA) and supported by University of Exeter, Students Guild and Streetwise Fund.

Zoe Rutterford, Student Support Officer at the University of Exeter, said: “Chinese New Year has become an important part of the University calendar and these celebrations are a fantastic and family-friendly opportunity to invite the community to share this amazing experience with us. There will be food, music, dancing, and fireworks and this year you will even be able to design your own chopsticks.”