Chinese New Year 2010, UK: Celebrating the Year of the Tiger
Sunday, 14 February 2010 must be an auspicious day. Not only is it Valentine’s Day, but it’s also the start of the Chinese New Year.
For Chinese communities, Chinese New Year is the biggest festival of the year and cities and towns all over the UK are welcoming the Year of the Tiger. Celebrations take place over 15 days, so there’s plenty of opportunity to join in the fun:
Birmingham Sunday 14 Feb, 12.30 - 4.30pm, Arcadian Centre, FREE; Acrobatics, traditional dances, kung fu demonstrations and a dragon dance on poles, music, plus further entertainment and market stalls on Hurst Street.
Edinburgh Saturday 13 Feb, from 11am, Scottish Storytelling Centre, FREE; Scotland ♥s China! Drop into the Storytelling Centre for a Scottish-Chinese circus of family stories, music and activities to mark the Chinese Year of the Tiger. Storytellers from all over Scotland join in with a day of fun and friendship with a special theme.
London Sunday, 21 Feb, 12 - 6pm, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Chinatown, FREE; Traditional and contemporary Chinese entertainment in Trafalgar Square including acrobatics, dance, music as well as firecrackers, Chinese dragons and lions. (See pictures from 2009 here). Plus cultural stalls, food and lion dance displays in Chinatown; Shaftesbury Avenue will become ‘Hong Kong in London Chinatown’ with a stage featuring performances by local Chinese artists. A colourful fireworks display in Leicester Square will close the celebrations.
Manchester Sunday, 14 Feb, 11am - 7pm, Chinatown and Albert Square, FREE; A whole day’s celebrations with dragon and lion Dances, 175ft long dragon parade, kung fu demonstrations, performances from Shaolin monks, folk dance performances, acrobatics, art workshops for children, the money god giving away lucky red-packets and spectacular fireworks.
Nottingham Friday to Sunday, 12 - 14 Feb, from 6pm on Friday, City Centre and Lakeside Arts Centre, FREE; Nottingham incorporates Chinese New Year celebrations with Light Night 2010, with illuminated Chinese Zodiac Animals lanterns - one for each of the 12 animals of the Zodiac - bringing alive the stories of the Zodiac animals.
Wishing everyone “Kung Hei Fat Choi”, a very happy and prosperous year of the Tiger.
If you’re taking part in Chinese New Year celebrations, drop us a line or send a picture to share with Your Travel Planner.
