Chinese New Year is one of the most important celebrations for Chinese people all around the world and in Newcastle too, where the Chinese community usually celebrate in style and welcome residents of the city to join in. This week is the culmination of preparations with the festivities culminating on 12th February.
Although the usual celebrations in our city may be restricted due to the pandemic, our partners are offering activities for schools to engage with to mark the start of the Year of the Ox. You can also find out more about Chinese New Year and Newcastle’s Chinese community in this article.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated at the turn of the Chinese calendar. Celebrations are organised annually in Newcastle. In China, it is also known as the Spring Festival.
The date for Chinese New Year is different every year as it is set according to the Lunar calendar. It falls on the first day of the new moon which begins in either late January or February. Celebrations last for around 15 days, ending on the day of the full moon.
Customs differ, but Chinese New Year is important for families to come together and wish each other peace and prosperity for the year ahead.
Chinese New Year in Newcastle
In Newcastle, public celebrations usually focus around Stowell Street in China Town, with an an hour-long parade through the city culminating in a dragon and lion dance in Stowell Street. This is organised by Newcastle’s Chinese Festival Group each year and is a colourful and joyous celebration of culture and traditions – and fireworks!
This year, due to the pandemic and the lockdown, there are no public events planned to mark the lunar year and the start of the lunar year and the Year of the Ox.
Click here for news articles from Newcastle Chronicle about Chinese New Years present and past.
Newcastle’s Chinese Community
China Town in Newcastle is one of only five China Towns in the UK and sits at the heart of the Chinese community. Based around Stowell Street in the city centre, it has a bustling Chinese community centre, supermarket and a fabulous selection of restaurants.
There are now over 35,000 people in the community in the city and surrounding areas, from all over the world – Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, and South East Asia (Malaysia, Singapore). There is also a strong Chinese student body in both Newcastle and Northumbria Universities.
The North East Chinese Association (NECA) and the Northern British Chinese Entrepreneur Association are two of the key organisations supporting and representing the community. NECA was formed in 1979 by volunteers to support the local community and now provides a wide range of cultural, social and education services and opportunities.
The history of the community in the city
St John’s cemetary in Elswick has the first recorded Chinese person in the city, with a headstone in Chinese letters from 1881, dedicated to a Chinese sailor.
The first Chinese restaurant opened in 1949, but it was in the 1960s-1980s that a lot more migration occured, with people seeking business opportunities and the chance to make a better living.
China Town marked a significant step when in in 2004, an 11 metre high Chinese arch, built by Shanghai craftsmen was erected on St Andrew’s Street, flanked by two Chinese guardian lions and facing St James’ Park, the home of Newcastle United Football Club.
Chinese New Year is one of many celebrations based on the Lunar Chinese calendar.
Year of the Ox – activitites and resources for schools
We may not be able to celebrate in person, but there are a range of resources and activities that our partners are making available to schools to mark the Year of the Ox.
Make a recycled Chinese dragon with Gem Arts (up to 13th Feb)
Join GemArts artist Pui Lee and make your own 3D Chinese dragon out of recycled materials to celebrate Chinese New Year.
Newcastle schools have been invited to join the online workshop, which can be accessed up to the 13th February. To join, you must register with international@durham.gov.uk to receive the link and password for the video on vimeo. There is an accompanying instruction sheet that teachers can use to prepare for the session including materials required and the steps in the process.
Year of the Ox Education and activity pack
British Council and the UCL IOE Confucius Institute for Schools have created an easy to use education resource pack for schools. It contains information and activities to help teachers and pupils learn more about this important spring festival and explore Chinese culture. These resources are suitable for primary years and adaptable for early secondary years and older. Click here to download the pack.
Pupils can read a version of the traditional story of the New Year Race, create shadow puppets of the main characters and make a traditional Chinese lantern.
The Chinese Zodiac for children
A student from Durham Chinese School has made an animated interactive video for children about the 12 Animals of the Chinese Zodiac and the story of the Ox
Durham University’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association have made films for sharing, suitable for children and adults, Click on the links:
- Chinese Spring Festival (New Year) preparations traditions and celebrations
- Students from different Chinese regions talk about preparations and New Year festivities (in English and Mandarin, Cantonese, with subtitles)
Supporting schools links with China
Newcastle schools have a range of links with China organised directly through their own links or with support from different organisations and sometimes linked to language learning.
True Education Partnerships supports a range of school partnerships in Newcastle and has an extensive and comprehensive range of support for schools at all levels, as well as global online platforms to support partnership working between schools, teachers and pupils.
Find out more here www.trueeducationpartnerships.com, but do contact Toni Camilleri to talk through the opportunities and what you can get involved in: Toni@truepartnerships.com