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Every
year when you hear the firecrackers and see the fireworks shootings
into the sky, followed by the Chinese Lion and unicorn dance, you
know that another Chinese New Year is here.
Friends and
relatives travel from everywhere in the country to celebrate together
for the evening, and it may be the only time in the year that they
get the chance to see each other.
The hall rings
out with the sound of Kung Hei Fat Choy as everyone greets their
friends with Happy New Year.
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| Young kungfu
artists on stage at the gala |
Children receive
their traditional Chinese red envelopes with lucky money inside,
making it a special evening for them as well.
Full of confidence,
the children perform traditional Chinese dancing, kungfu, poetry
and singing.
The parents of the performers especially enjoy themselves, knowing
that their efforts throughout the year -- taking the children to
the Sunday Chinese school every week -- has paid off.
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| Halina
Hung of the East of England Chinese Association at the gala. |
The Nottingham
Chinese Women's Association prepared New Year's cakes to sell for
the school fund, while a raffle and auction also help raise money
for the East of England Chinese Association.
The school has
more than 200 students from around the East Midlands who study art,
dancing, kungfu and Mandarin and Cantonese.
The evening
included special guests from the Embassy of the People's Republic
of China, the police and education departments and other dignitaries.
You can see
some of the children's art work
in our special feature on the Year of the Snake.
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| Sing
a lovely song! |
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The
Lions have arrived |
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| All
dressed up for a party |
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A
chance for the family to celebrate |
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| Everybody
is kungfu fighting |
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The
Lion stole the show! |
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