Celebrating the Snake!

Eleanor Wong

As we approach the end of the year of the Dragon, we look forward to welcoming in the year of the Snake; the sixth sign of the Chinese zodiac.

If the Snake is your Chinese zodiac animal, then you might be a determined, smart and mysterious character. Snakes are good at talking and are great thinkers. They are loyal and logical and can develop deep relationships with others. Although, they can show quite the jealous streak and can be a little indecisive. At times you may be impatient and find you prefer to be alone. Snakes are opportunistic, wise and naturally attract wealth.

Snakes aren’t the only ones celebrating...families all over the world will be making preparations for the upcoming New Year, which begins on 29th January 2025. It is a time of family reunions, time honoured traditions and excellent food!!!

In China the new year is marked by a 15-day celebration called Spring Festival, where family members all come together to share the festivities. The house is cleaned before the new year begins, so not to bring bad luck by cleaning on New Year’s Day. Haircuts are had and new clothes bought. Houses are adorned with fabulous, brightly coloured decorations, including banners and lanterns. Everybody and all homes are awash with bright colours, as black and white are considered to be associated with death and mourning. New year is about keeping negativity at bay in order to bring good luck, good health and wealth in the new year. Fireworks and firecrackers are let off to ward off bad luck and offerings are made to ancestors, as all are remembered at this special time of year. Children are given ‘lucky money’ in red envelopes by older members of the family. The celebrations are brought to a close with lion and dragon dances and huge lantern festivals.

Food is an integral part of the festivities and preparation can go on for days. Symbolic food is devoured; noodles to represent long life and prosperity, dumplings to bring wealth and money, whole fish to represent abundance and fruit to finish. If you would like to enjoy all these dishes and more, without the work, then I would highly recommend booking a table at award winning Chung Ying Cantonese Restaurant, where you can choose from one of the largest menus in the UK, including the ‘Best Dumplings in the UK’! 

We are so lucky here in Birmingham to have a great variety of Chinese restaurants and to have huge celebrations in Birmingham’s China Town, hosted completely free of charge, by the Birmingham Chinese Festival Commitee; produced by Birmingham’s Hippodrome. They bring us a weekend full of performances and festivities in Southside. The streets will be lined with stalls and activities for all ages to enjoy.  So, wear your brightest colours, gather all your loved ones and enjoy a weekend of joy and celebration. Kung Hei Fat Choy!!!!