Lunar new year opportunities for children and young adults
10 December 2024
Alongside China, many countries around the world use the lunar calendar and every new year is associated with an animal.
2025: The year of the snake
In 2025 it’s the turn of the snake, and in Chinese astrology these animals are not considered to be frightening but wise, charming and elegant. So if you were born in 2013, 2001 or 1989 (and every 12 years before that) then you will be what is sometimes called a Xiaolong or Little Dragon and consequently an intuitive, strategic, and intelligent being.
Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival
Did you know that the Lunar or Chinese New Year is actually only one part of a larger celebration?
The so-named Spring Festival marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Because the Chinese use the lunar calendar, the length and dates of this event change every year. On average however, it lasts 23 days and ends on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
Whilst the festival’s climax is Yuan Dan 元旦 (New Year), it also includes activities such as paying respects to ancestors, spring cleaning, welcoming the god of wealth and the Lantern Festival.
Online and in person activities for children and young adults
To celebrate this unique time of year, we invite schools, colleges, home educators and special interest children’s groups to discover Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival.
Join us online, in-person or even both!
Primary schools
On Monday 27 January, we will be holding another Online Chinese New Year Festival.
Since its inception in 2022, these festivals have been hugely popular with schools with hundreds of pupils across Wales taking part. In the past, children have experienced a range of live and recorded sessions with Cardiff Confucius Institute tutors, including learning about the origins and traditions of the Spring Festival; enjoying hands-on activities such as lantern making and calligraphy; and learning expressions in Mandarin for this special time of year.
In 2025, we will be holding short live sessions for Key stage 2 children all morning, and for key stage 1 in the afternoon. They will include an introduction to the festival, discovering the Chinese zodiac, storytelling, making door decorations & firecrackers and more!
If you are unable to join the festival live sessions, you can access recordings of them to use in your own time.
Sign your pupils up to the Online Chinese New Year Festival or for recordings of the sessions.
Secondary schools and colleges
Short online and in person courses
For Chinese New Year 2025, we will be launching our special six-week short course for key stage 3, 4 and 5 pupils.
The course has been designed by Cardiff Confucius Institute tutors specifically for older children and young people to learn about the country and main language of China. One or more of our tutors will teach it either in person or online at your school. The six sessions are flexible, and can be held on a weekly basis or over a specific period of time such as two weeks, two months or even over a whole year.
Express your interest or find out more
Life in China videos
In 2024, the tutors at Cardiff Confucius designed a range of videos to give older children and young people a real taste of Life in China. If you have not used them with your classes yet, please check them out on YouTube.
More Spring Festival opportunities for schools and colleges
Spring Festival China Days
If your school or college is in Cardiff or the surrounding area, you can apply for a special China Day in your school.
At our China Days, Cardiff Confucius Institute tutors deliver bespoke sessions to pupils. In the past, tutors have delivered activities related to the Spring Festival including paper-cutting special New Year’s decorations, discovering how it is celebrated in different parts of the country, and even paper-folding Chinese dumplings!
Please note that these events are based on staff availability. Schools who are in or close to Cardiff will be given priority, as will those who have not held a China Day before.
Cardiff Confucius Institute Online School
As the year of the snake is said to be one of personal growth and development, in 2025 we will be investigating the possibility of starting an Online School.
We therefore invite parents and carers of children and young people who are interested in learning Mandarin Chinese independently to tell us their preferences, and we will get back in touch in the spring to inform you of the outcome.
Express your interest in learning Mandarin Chinese with our Online School
Community Events
- Saturday 1st February, Cardiff Central Library, 11am to 3pm – Cardiff Confucius Institute will join staff at the Central Library Hub and other partners to offer free activities for all ages including music, language tasters, lantern making and tea tasting. Free to attend. Booking may be required for some morning activities.
- Sunday 2nd February, The Red Dragon Centre, 12 noon to 5pm - Cardiff Confucius Institute tutors will be celebrating with a mix of festivities including calligraphy, paper cutting and lantern making plus music and dance performances. Free to attend. No booking required.