In the afternoon of January 27, 2023 (the 6th day of the 1st month of the lunar calendar), the International Education College of SBS held an online activity for international students to share and introduce traditional Chinese New Year customs, present the profound underlying meanings, spread Chinese culture and traditions, and enhance communication and interaction between Chinese and foreign students.
The session focused on traditional Chinese New Year customs. People add to the festive atmosphere in various ways and means. For example, people express their hopes for the New Year and the New Life by putting up Chinese New Year couplets; besides, people make festival lanterns as a custom originating from the traditional folklore of the Han Chinese people, and the lanterns are made of paper or silk as the outer skin, and bamboo or wood as the skeleton, with candles or light bulbs placed in the middle; Shou Sui has a long history as a custom of staying up on New Year’s Eve; during Shou Sui, the elders would give “New Year’s money” (Lucky Money) to the younger generation, hoping the latter would have a smooth year; another case is the festive and lively reunion dinner, which is often the main activity of most people during the Chinese New Year, and can be considered one of the most important features of the Chinese New Year.
The session also introduced the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, which is a comprehensive cultural gala held by CCTV every year on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the New Year. During the session, the Chinese students introduced the programs of the Gala to the students and selected representative performance clips.
NZOUNGOU JEFFERSON PRINCE AMOUR, an international student from the Republic of Congo said, “I am a fan of Chinese culture, and I think today’s activity has broadened my knowledge of Chinese Spring Festival culture and deepened my understanding of traditional Chinese culture”. The Chinese and foreign students celebrated the Chinese New Year together online. International students are not only the “business card” of China’s foreign education, but also the “messenger” of communication between China and the world. The event enhanced the friendship between the international students and Chinese students, allowed the international students to feel the atmosphere of Chinese New Year and deepened their understanding of Chinese traditional customs.
Written by: Zhang Ruyi
Screenshots by: Zhang Ruyi
Reviewed by: Chen Wei
