Chinese New Year at the Lakeside

17/02/2010

Janine Pounder went to the Chinese New Year celebrations at the Lakeside Arts Centre

Chinese New Year fireworks - photo by Janine Pounder

The city was alive with fervent love this Valentines Day but it wasn’t only couples who were celebrating. Sunday 14 February was an important day in the Chinese Calendar for it was the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year.

Based on the Lunar calendar, Chinese New Year can fall anywhere from late January up to mid-February. The years are divided into twelve, each year given the names and attributes of animals. 2010 is the year of the Tiger, and Nottingham went all out with the New Years celebration.

Events were hosted throughout the city starting on Tuesday 2 February with an audio visual tour of China at West Bridgeford Library, followed by Chinese Arts and Crafts. On Friday 12 February Nottingham City Centre glowed on Light Night with illuminated lanterns illustrating all twelve zodiac animals. Arnold and Beeston were both hit with New Year reverence, being treated to a lantern display and day of cultural activities, and then the Grand Finale took place at Lakeside Art Centre on Sunday.

The final day of events began at 12pm at Lakeside with a contemporary exhibition of traditional Chinese Brush Painting by artist Hui-Chen (Annie) Lin, presenting a wide range of images including plants and flowers, characters and the illustrious Tiger. Also a series of workshops, paper cutting and calligraphy demonstrations took place inside the gallery which adults and children alike got stuck into throughout the day.

Chinese New Year dragon dance - photo by Janine Pounder

With over 2000 Chinese students living in Nottingham, The Lakeside Arts Centre was invited by Broxtowe Borough Council in 2005 to host its own Chinese New Year festivities. Developing links with the Chinese Community Association and international students, Lakeside along with the City and Borough Councils hold these entertaining and informative events all over the city honouring Chinese New year and cultural tradition.

At 6pm people began to gather outside to Highfields Park to watch a fantastic selection of traditional Chinese dances. The Dragon Dance was performed by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association who reproduced the slender rhythms of a serpent, followed by the Ribbon Dance and finally the Lion Dance performed with rich with drum beats and sharp agile movements.

Then the grand finale a remarkable firework display which soared over Highfields Lake. The rockets burst in colour over the heads of the awe struck crowd and each explosion pulsed with the music as they built in volume toward the pinnacle point of the display.

It was an amazing sight and certainly lived up to the reputation of being one of the best firework displays in Nottingham. The event was as it set out to be, an enjoyable, informative family day which celebrates Chinese New Year and culture with undeniable magnificence.

So what does this New Year of the Tiger bring us?Hard work, so pull your finger out and make those dreams come true. Also like the nature of the beast, you and those closest will be more honest, passionate and modest. Or at the very least you can restart your New Years resolutions!

Xin Nian Kuai Le!
(Happy New Year!)

The Chinese New Year Celebrations were held at Lakeside Arts Centre Sunday 14 February 2010.