For those of you who celebrate Chinese New Year, I wish you good luck, happiness and health in the New Year.
In the past two weeks I had afternoon tea with gnome in his front garden.
[Read more…] about Year of the Tiger – Celebrating Friendship
Gucci has used real tigers in their recent adverts celebrating the Year of the Tiger. It seems the tigers have been trained or tamed to be used as props, accessories, and friendly pets. These adverts really have reminded me of the adorable tiger and his friendship with the little girl Sophie, in The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr.
In the commercial adverts, actual tigers roamed the scenes, and joined a group of friends for high tea, in various spaces of a luxurious, retro-style hotel. See this report. [Read more…] about Should Real Tigers be Used as Props?
As the Lunar New Year (Tuesday, 1 February 2022) is just around the corner, I thought I would share little stories about tiger as it’s going to the the Year of the Tiger.
In the west, the tigers I’m most familiar with are Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, and Hobbes, Calvin’s stuffed tiger and best friend. These are friendly tigers.
The tigers in the Chinese context seem to be mighty and ferocious. They are not there to ‘be kind’ or friendly.
Here is a widely known story between a fox and a tiger in the idiom 狐假虎威（hú jiǎ hǔ wēi): [Read more…] about A Story about Tiger
The 2022 Chinese New Year Celebration in Southampton will be on Sunday 30/1/2022 at Westquay Shopping Centre, from 11am to 3pm.
The Chinese Association of Southampton and the University of Southampton Confucius Institute once again bring the traditional Chinese New Year celebration to Southampton to welcome the Year of the Tiger 2022.
Chinese New Year 2022 falls on Tuesday, the 1st of February 2022. The celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on the 15th of February.
You are invited to join the first online Chinese New Year event on Sunday 14/2/2021 at 5pm, organised by Southampton Chinese Association.
If you are unable to join Zoom, you can join using the YouTube Live link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_OkT9EdD6k
Programmes include: Lion dance, Martial Art display, Chinese dance and music, Chinese opera, and Dragon dance.
It is the Year of the Ox.
[Read more…] about Online Chinese New Year Celebration from Southampton: Sunday 14.02.2021 at 5pm
This year, the Chinese New Year Celebration in Southampton will start early. Even though the Chinese New Year this year is on Tuesday the 5th of February, you can celebrate it two days earlier in Southampton.
It is the Year of the Pig.
The Chinese New Year celebration is organised by The Chinese Association of Southampton (CAS). It will take place at WestQuay Southampton on Sunday 3rd February 2019 from 11am. [Read more…] about Chinese New Year Celebration at WestQuay: Sunday 3rd February 2019 from 11am
Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year 2016.
It’s the Year of the Monkey, my Zodiac Year of Birth, which is known as 本命年 (Běn mìng nián).
Traditionally a lot of Chinese believe that your zodiac year (12 years as a cycle) will bring danger and misfortune, so you need to wear something red.
To ward off evil spirits, apparently one has to wear red underwear too. [Read more…] about Welcoming Year of Monkey: 8 February 2016
Update: Chinese New Year 2016 Celebration in Southampton: Sunday 14th February 2016 at Regents Park Community College SO16 4GW.
修咸頓華人協會2016農曆新年慶祝會
Chinese Association of Southampton (CAS): Chinese New Year Celebration 2016 pic.twitter.com/1hcIwp8zXu
— Chinese Southampton (@SotonChinese) January 11, 2016
Original post for Chinese New Year 2015 (Below):
Southampton Chinese New Year Celebration will take place on Sunday 22nd February 2015 inside West Quay shopping centre, from 11am to 1pm.
The Year of the Sheep (or Goat) runs from 19th February 2015 to 7th February 2016.
The Chinese New Year celebration is organised by Chinese Association of Southampton. [Read more…] about Southampton Chinese New Year Celebration: Sunday 22nd February 2015 West Quay
My youngest son has just visited from China where he works as a teacher of kindergarten children.
Chinese parents are keen for their children to be taught English so he has been in southwest China for just over three years.
It was lovely to have him and his Chinese girlfriend visit [Read more…] about Cup of Chinese Tea, Anyone?
I nearly forgot it was Mid-Autumn Festival yesterday (8th of September) – on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
I learned as a child that the moon on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month was the brightest. Scientifically I now know it may not be the truth.
Mid-Autumn Festival is my favourite festival of all Chinese festivals. The fullness of the moon reflects [Read more…] about Mid-Autumn Moon, Love, And Myths
We visited Osborne House on the Isle of Wight yesterday. I had a discovery.
In Queen Victoria’s bedroom, I saw her famous bed.
According to Stephen Regan from the Open University, at the end of her life, the Queen was nursed in this bedroom by her personal physician, Dr James Reid. [Read more…] about Queen Victoria’s Bed Cover From China
When I was an undergraduate student in Taiwan, I was surprised to learn that Father’s Day in Taiwan is actually on the 8th of August.
The number eight is pronounced as bā in Mandarin Chinese. 8/8 is pronounced bā – bā, close to the pronunciation of father – 爸爸 bàba.
Though Father’s Day is [Read more…] about Father’s Day and Chinese War of Resistance
I had an adventure in London last week and somehow got lost.
I visited the Malaysian High Commission in Belgrave Square near Hyde Park Corner at 8am, and waited for the door to be opened. My purpose was to get my passport renewed.
I wasn’t the first visitor. A lady in her 60s travelled from Scotland through the night [Read more…] about Malaysian High Commission In London
Just a few yards off The Circus in Bath is the Museum of East Asian Art in a beautiful Georgian house on Bennett Street.
The contents were collected by Brian McElney OBE, a British scholar of sinology who worked as a lawyer in Hong Kong. After retirement he tried to present his collection to other museums of Chinese art but eventually set this one up himself. [Read more…] about China In Bath
I have almost forgotten today is the Tomb Sweeping Day to the Chinese people.
I was reminded of the festival today when I read that the Chinese families of Chinese passengers aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 are still hopeful.
Tomb Sweeping Day is also known as the Qing Ming Festival 清明节, literally Clear Bright Festival [Read more…] about Tomb Sweeping Day
Fortune House Chinese Take-away informed me today (Saturday) that today is their last business day. The Tang Family has decided to end their catering business in Chandler’s Ford after a month.
Fortune House on 119 Winchester Road is run by David, Sim and their son Wing Tang. They only became the new owners in January this year. [Read more…] about Last Business Day Today For Fortune House Chinese Take-away
I offered my skills to Hampshire Libraries to be their casual tutor.
Today I received an email of rejection.
The course I wanted to run is Mandarin Chinese. I can teach Mandarin Chinese at all levels.
[Read more…] about Should Hampshire Libraries Run Non-European Language Courses?
Since January, I have written 19 posts about the Chinese New Year.
I have shared stories of the local people who celebrate the Lunar New Year as their culture.
I also delighted you with the story of the lion who came to tea with me. [Read more…] about Today Is The Lantern Festival: Bright Full Moon Tonight
We had lunch in Southampton after watching the Lion Dance yesterday. Two lions came to tea.
After the meal, when we were about to leave the restaurant, a Malaysian Chinese waitress stopped me: “Stay here. The Lions are coming in!” “When?” I asked. “Now!”
My instant response was to search for evidence at the ceiling. I saw some lettuce [Read more…] about The Lions Who Came To Tea
A friend commented that I posted too many posts on this website as he was struggling to catch up. But he added yesterday, “However I am sure we all want to hear about the Lion Dance tomorrow.”
Why was my friend contradicting himself?
Well, today’s Lion Dance in Southampton was full of surprises. [Read more…] about Auspicious Lions in Southampton: Chinese New Year 2014
