On Friday 23 February 2024, Chinese Studies students, lecturers, and guests convened at the Confucius Institute to commemorate the Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or the Chinese Spring Festival, which stands as China's most significant cultural event. Spanning 15 days, this festival, commencing with the new moon on 11 February 2024, holds deep-rooted cultural significance within China and among Chinese communities globally. Its essence lies in the symbolic act of bidding farewell to the old while ushering in the new.

In preparation for the New Year, individuals engage in thorough cleaning of their homes, purging unwanted possessions, and adorning their surroundings with vibrant red couplets, lanterns, fresh flower arrangements, and new furnishings. Furthermore, special culinary delights are acquired for the festive feasts.

Today, the Chinese New Year transcends national boundaries, celebrated not only within China but also embraced by Chinese communities worldwide. At Rhodes University's Confucius Institute, this year's festivities warmly welcomed four new staff members, among whom were three lecturers from China, namely Ms Deng Yiping, Ms Chen Xinlei, Ms Yi Danni, and Ms Sethu Ralo who took the position of office administrator at the Institute.

The event commenced with introductions of new Chinese lecturers, followed by a speech delivered by Professor Patrice Mwepu, who is the Director of the Confucius Institute. Professor Mwepu underscored the symbolic significance of the dragon in Chinese New Year traditions, stating, “The dragon, revered as the first animal in the Chinese Zodiac, embodies qualities of strength, power, resilience, and auspiciousness”. He further emphasized the festival's overarching goal of embracing cultural diversity and heritage.

In his address, Professor Mwepu acknowledged that the Chinese lecturers were experiencing the New Year festivities outside of China for the first time in their lives. Following the speech, a brief video elucidating the significance of the Chinese New Year captivated the audience, showcasing symbolic foods such as fish, integral to the New Year's culinary customs. Ms. Deng Yiping, a lecturer in Chinese Studies, elaborated on the symbolic importance of fish during the Chinese New Year, stating that “the fish symbolizes luck and prosperity, typically boiled and savoured during the Lunar Festival”. Ms. Deng also underscored that “the red colour, often adorning traditional Chinese attire, symbolizes good fortune and happiness”.

The evening was adorned with performances by second-year Chinese Studies students, delighting all the guests. One student, Rebecca, expressed a preference for the Chinese New Year over Western celebrations, remarking, “I favour the Chinese New Year for its personal touch compared to the Western New Year, which tends to be a one-day affair”. She added, “Chinese festivities entail greater effort, rendering them more meaningful”.

The event culminated in the customary exchange of red envelopes, followed by an engaging question and answer session facilitated by the Chinese lecturers. As the evening drew to a close, guests savoured shared meals while reflecting on the profound significance of the celebration. Heartfelt gratitude was extended to all who contributed to crafting a memorable event, epitomizing the spirit of cultural exchange and mutual appreciation