CHINESE New Year is fast approaching, and this is the year of the rabbit.
The celebration commences on Sunday, January 22 and lasts for just over two weeks.
So here are some of the ways Warrington is celebrating the prosperous festival.
Mr Lau’s Chinese New Year event
Kicking off with a bang, the annual event held at Mr Lau’s in the Cultural Quarter of town is back again for the tenth year running.
The event is set to take place next Saturday, 28, and will incorporate the best of the Chinese traditions to welcome in the new year with luck and positivity.
Live music will carry through the entire evening while people can enjoy a four course banquet meal specially designed for the occasion.
Traditional lion dancing will also be performed by Liverpool-based Kung Fu school, Hung Gar Kung Fu Friendship Association, making its way through the restaurant floor and fire crackers are set to be released on the street to ‘start the new year off with a bang’.
Owner of the restaurant Pamela Lau explained some of the symbolism behind the celebration.
“It is all about bringing the family together and eating with friends and family.
“The festival is all about Spring, it is a new moon, and the new year brings spring,” she said.
Pamela also detailed some of the traditional food that is eaten during the festival.
“Noodles are eaten, and they symbolise longevity. Round dumplings are also made, and they symbolise prosperity as the shape represents gold ingots - old Chinese coins.”
Tickets to the event are £65 per head and that includes a goodie bag, as well as each guest receiving a traditional red envelope.
Pamela also spoke of how in previous years they have put on celebrations in the afternoon at the restaurant and welcomed in primary school children to enjoy some of the festivities.
She said: “We love working with schools and if any schools are interested in bringing the children down to celebrate the festival for an afternoon, please get in touch.”
Warrington Friendship Festival
A brand-new event for families will take place at the Pyramid Art Centre on Palmyra Square on Saturday, February 11.
Funded by UKHK, a charity who aim to help new Hong Kongers settle into UK life, and in partnership with Cheshire Halton and Warrington Race and Equality Centre, the free event hopes to help build new friendships and bring cultures together.
The day promises to encapsulate the traditions of the festival while incorporating some of the Hong Kong culture into the celebrations as well.
Split into two sessions, the first session will begin at 11am and run through to 1pm and the second session will follow on at 1pm through to 3pm.
Both sessions will begin with an energetic performance from a K-POP dance group, followed by lunar new year activities and games.
There will be pop-up booths for hand crafts, face painting and balloon twisting.
Hong Kong snacks are to be served up as well as local Chinese foods and a performance juggler and magician will be there to put on a mesmerising show.
Cheshire Halton & Warrington Race & Equality Centre’s project manager Lionel Lee spoke of his excitement for the event.
“This is the first time this event has been done for Chinese New Year, we are very excited for it.
“We will share our culture with the local people.”
Lionel detailed how many of the activities will be fun for all the family with winners of games receiving red packets as prizes.
“The red envelopes are traditionally given to children and contain money to symbolise blessings and good luck for the new year.”
To register for a free ticket visit the Eventbrite page at eventbrite.co.uk/e/warrington-friendship-festival-tickets-476456453077
Chinese New Year at Warrington Youth Zone
Families were welcomed into Warrington Youth Zone last Saturday, 14, to embrace and learn about the spring festival.
The charity teamed up with Mulan Culture Warrington for the family day that provided children and parents with the opportunity to experience cultural activities to help commemorate the upcoming celebration.
More than 1000 people showed up for the event and it was described as a ‘great experience’.
Creative Arts Co-ordinator at Warrington Youth Zone, Isabelle Rudge said: "It was such a brilliant celebration of the New Year to have lots of new faces and families in the Youth Zone taking part in a variety of fun and unique activities.”
Activities were all linked to Asian tradition and included calligraphy, Kung Fu, dragon dancing, Chinese hair braiding and arts and crafts.
There was also an opportunity to listen to authentic Chinese music and a traditional Chinese food tasting session was put on as well for those who attended.
A spokesperson for Mulan Culture team said: “On Saturday, we saw many old friends and families come to join this event, but also met many new Hong Kong families to smile, to talk.
“It was a great to experience the various activities that WYZ can provide for local children and families on the daily basis."
“We look forward to working with the team at Mulan Culture again to provide many more family events in Warrington," Isabelle added.
Chinese New Year Cake
Grand Patisserie UK, an Asian inspired bakery on Buttermarket Street, are selling traditional cakes often eaten on Chinese New Year.
The first being a glutinous rice cake, also known as Nian Gao. It is made from glutinous rice flour and brown sugar and is a sweet cake.
A second traditional cake that is being sold is the popular radish cake. A savoury cake commonly served on Chinese New Year.
Patisserie owner, Cheryl Chan said: “We enjoy the Chinese New Year Cake because it represents prosperity and success.”
The Glutinous rice cake is £10.80 while the Radish cake is £12.80 and both are baked in-house by Cheryl.
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