Local School Children Celebrate Chinese New Year with LCI
Chinese New Year, a festival symbolizing reunion, hope, and new beginnings, carries thousands of years of history and cultural significance. Teachers from the Liverpool Confucius Institute (LCI) have recently helped local children embrace Chinese New Year and heritage through a variety of cultural presentations and interactive hands-on workshops. These events also included Mandarin taster workshops, where students were introduced to basic Mandarin phrases and vocabulary, offering them a fun and accessible way to engage with the language.
The school communities were immersed in Chinese Calligraphy, where students learned to write Chinese characters with brush and ink. Classical Chinese Music and Dance introduced students to authentic Chinese songs, as students tried their hand at graceful movements and traditional choreography, learning about the importance of dance in Chinese festivals. In addition, the Chinese Handcraft workshop allowed students to explore their creativity by making beautiful crafts inspired by Chinese art and culture.
The Chinese Puppet Shadow Workshop was an exciting and immersive cultural experience designed to introduce students to the ancient art of Chinese shadow puppetry. This engaging workshop allowed students to explore the history, craftsmanship, and performance techniques of this traditional storytelling art form.
Monksdown Primary School
Since last year, the Liverpool Confucius Institute has been proud to offer Mandarin after-school lessons to students at Monksdown Primary School, providing an exciting opportunity to explore the Chinese language and culture. This initiative aims to enrich students' understanding of the world by introducing them to Mandarin, one of the most widely spoken languages globally.
LIPA Primary & High School
Lipa Primary & High School marked an exciting milestone this year as it launched its first-ever whole school event to celebrate Chinese New Year on the 31st of January 2025. Organised by the Culture Committee, the event brought together students, staff, and the wider school community such as Liverpool Confucius Institute for a day filled with cultural exploration and festive spirit.
Norris Green Community
LCI presented Norris Green Community with traditional Chinese fan-making and usage, as well as captivating traditional dance performances. The children experienced the art of fan-making first hand, while the beautiful dance performances gave them a taste of the unique charm of Chinese culture. In addition, the teachers shared Chinese New Year customs such as making dumplings, pasting Spring Festival couplets, and giving red envelopes, explaining the symbolic meanings behind these activities, which deepened the children's understanding of the holiday.
A particularly noteworthy highlight was the storytelling about the “Nian Monster.” As an important symbol of Chinese New Year culture, the Nian Monster represents the driving away of evil and welcoming of the new year. The teachers’ vivid storytelling not only introduced the children to the charm of Chinese mythology but also sparked their interest in the historical and traditional aspects of the Chinese New Year.
All of the groups and schools involved celebrated the opportunity to embrace diversity and enrich their students’ understanding of global traditions. The workshops were a great success, fostering curiosity, creativity, and cultural appreciation among young learners. If you are a local educator and would like LCI to run similar workshops or run Mandarin classes with your students, please contact lci@liverpool.ac.uk.
Since its establishment, the University of Liverpool's Confucius Institute has been dedicated to promoting cultural exchange and knowledge dissemination. This Chinese New Year celebration is not only an important part of the Institute’s cultural programs but also marks a milestone in the deepening collaboration with the local community. We look forward to working with the community and our partners further in the coming year.