The Start of a New Year

Minister Zhang Lanchun makes a special presentation to President Dodds during this year's Chinese Spring Festival Gala.

It’s the most popular Holiday in Chinese culture.  A fifteen day celebration dedicated to the start of a New Year.

For Saint Mary’s University, that celebration began one week early on January 15th when 400 people packed the McNally Theater Auditorium to commemorate the holiday known in China as Spring Festival.  Official festivities did not begin until January 23rd.  

As the year of the Dragon, 2012 holds special significance for the Chinese people.  One of the most powerful symbols in the Asian zodiac, the Dragon is revered as a sign of prosperity and for the Chinese people represents power, wisdom, bravery and magic.

In a tribute to the Dragon, this year’s Gala Night, hosted by the University’s Chinese Student Association and the International Centre at Saint Mary’s and Beijing Normal University (Zhuhai Campus) Alumni Association,  featured a spectacular array of traditional Chinese dance, music, art and a magic show.

For Saint Mary’s University, the evening was a powerful reminder of the bond we share with our  Chinese students and colleagues.

"I believe that the gala will not only enrich the community life and build stronger friendships among the people, but also it will help promote Chinese culture and expand its influence," said Mr. Zhang Lanchun, Minister-Counselor of Education for the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, as he addressed the hundreds of students and community members at the celebration. This was Mr. Zhang’s second visit to Saint Mary’s University since October.

As a token of appreciation for the success Saint Mary’s University has achieved in creating a cohesive Chinese community on campus, Mr. Zhang presented Dr. Dodds with a set of woodcuts, a traditional piece of artwork that many Chinese households place in their windows at the time of the New Year.

In addition, on behalf of the Embassy of China, Mr. Zhang awarded the winner of the evening’s “lucky draw” a special 2011 stamp collection.

The Chinese Spring Festival begins each year on the first day of the first month in the traditional lunar calendar and ends 15 days later with a Lantern Festival.

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This page last modified Thursday, 26-Jan-2012 15:41:25 AST