Chinese New Year celebrations in Bexleyheath
On Saturday 17th February Bexleyheath hosted a number of activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year, the celebrations began at 10am and finished at 4pm. These took place in the Broadway Bexleyheath and were enjoyed by many. The Chinese New Year officially began on Friday 16th February and 2018 is the year of the dog according to the Chinese calendar, although the celebration in Bexleyheath was not as pompous as it would be in China it was still a brilliant way of spreading this festivity across the community.
In Bexleyheath Broadway there were a number of Chinese food stalls selling delicious noodles and Dim Sum, which a number of people enjoyed, especially those on their lunch breaks who work in Bexleyheath Shopping Centre. In addition, there was also a stall to create face masks and a rickshaw, which took people sitting behind on a little trip around Bexleyheath Broadway. This was particularly enjoyed by many little children along with their parents whom afterwards posed for photos with the rickshaw. On top of these stalls there was also a dog mascot, lion dancers and fortune cookie giveaways. The celebrations were enjoyed very much, having spoken to someone enjoying the celebrations, 11-year-old Sahib Atwal, who said that “the Chinese food was really nice and the rickshaw ride was really fun”. For people living in Bexleyheath this allowed them to take part in the Chinese New Year festivities even if they could not attend elsewhere.
Although this was a small celebration lasting one day, in China it is very different and last around 15 days. Houses would be thoroughly cleaned and ritual sacrifices, such as food, offered to the gods and ancestors. Money is also given to younger children by the elder and scrolls are printed. However, one of the most televised aspect is the fireworks and firecrackers that explode across the country, plastering colours all across the sky which are done to ward off evil spirits. Another highly regarded aspect is the food, during Chinese New Year lavish feasts are prepared, as whole extended families get together to share this auspicious time. Different foods would be prepared to correspond with the different times of the New year. For example, in the first five days long noodles would be eaten to symbolise long life and near the final days of the festivities round dumplings would be eaten to symbolise the full moon and perfection. Traditionally the Chinese New Year festival was so important that it would almost stop business life as people stated preparing for the festival by focusing many on their homes and families.
Although the Bexleyheath celebration was not as extensive as it traditionally is it was definitely a brilliant way of spreading and celebrating the festival to many across the town. I wish everyone a happy new year and look forward to seeing what this year of the dog brings.
By Pawinder manak- Bromley High School GDST
