Happy Chinese New Year 2016!

Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort, 28 January 2016: Students from Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences recently gathered for a traditional celebration to commemorate the coming Chinese New Year 2016. The cultural event offered a chance to enjoy traditional Chinese food, games, music and other fun surprises. In addition to students and local residents, two distinguished guests were also in attendance: Professor Dr habil. Jens Gebauer, the University’s Vice-President for Research and Outreach, and Dongsheng Han, the Consul for China, who travelled from Düsseldorf especially to attend the event.

The cultural event was organised by Daren Liu and Yaou Wu of the University’s Chinese Students Union, with additional help from students in the International Business and Social Sciences and Sustainable Agriculture study courses. The Chinese New Year differs from the Gregorian calendar in that it follows the Chinese lunar year. It begins annually between 20 January and 21 February with the first new moon of the first lunar month, though the exact date varies. The new year’s celebrations continue through the 15^th day of the lunar month and conclude with the traditional Lantern Festival. As this year’s Chinese New Year occurs in early February and thus during the examination period, students wisely decided to hold their celebrations early in January.

The Chinese New Year is considered one of the most important festivals in Chinese culture, involving many important traditions. As in other countries, it’s tradition to leave the house before the stroke of midnight, but in Chinese culture this is also a way of removing the remnants of the outgoing year from the household. After returning home, it’s then important to open the windows to let in the good fortune that the new year brings.