Sheffield’s Lunar Chinese New Year is on its way to be “biggest cultural festival in the UK”.
For over 20 years Sheffield has welcomed the Lunar Chinese new year festival with one of the UK’s most spectacular cultural celebrations. It takes place all over the city from meadowhall to the city centre.
Jerry Cheung, founder of the Sheffield Lunar Chinese New Year Festival, said: “the festival that is fast becoming the biggest cultural festival in the UK.
Kelvin Quick member of the Cultural inclusive (C.I.C) said: “we’ll make it bigger and bolder every year.”
Mr Quick was passionate about how important it is to make sure history and culture should be shared and never forgotten.
He said: “We are promoting our culture to the city. We want to celebrate together with everyone in Sheffield and develop this legacy to bring it down to our next generation and the generation after.”
To celebrate the year of the horse, the main event of the city-wide festival is the free, two day event held at the peace gardens.
Mr Quick said: “It’s free for everyone, it’s for families, to bring the culture all the way from China, all the way over here.”
The festival will include a whole range of dazzling activities from world champion Lion and dragon dancers, interactive workshops, gravity defying gymnastics and favourites such as the Wanlin dance group, all bringing us together to learn and celebrate Chinese culture within the heart of Sheffield.
It‘s not just a two day festival, it’s a cultural takeover. Starting on the 16 February, with the Children’s hospital switching on the Lunar new years lights featuring a dragon on the side of the building. To the octagon, with unforgettable performance from the Lunar new year spectacular.
Mr Cheung talks about what the festival means and what is important, he said: “It is all about family, reunion of family, honouring ancestors and welcoming good fortune.
“For the community, it represents renewal, unity and the hope for prosperity.” This year is the year of the horse, it symbolises energy, strength, freedom and determination. People born this year are believed to be hardworking, confident and adventurous.
Mr Cheung also said: “the festival is meant to be a platform for other communities to showcase their culture” during the international fashion week.
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