Chinese New Year begins on Tuesday 17 February this year, marking the start of the Year of the Horse. Members of the Chinese Society at the University of Galway are preparing to welcome the new year far from home.
“The biggest traditional festival in China means family reunion and the start of a new year,” says Zhang Shuhong, a member of the Chinese Society. “It is the time when we miss our families the most. For Chinese students far away from home, this festival becomes our spiritual support. It helps us connect with each other and share our culture.”
Celebrated by approximately two billion people worldwide, the 15-day festival brings together families and communities. Across the globe, Chinese diaspora communities observe the holiday with traditional food, decorations and cultural performances, including here in Galway.
Ireland’s warmth shapes that experience in unique ways. “We enjoy making more Irish-style food at home, such as adding fish and Irish stew. For our events, we also plan to offer traditional food that everyone can enjoy,” Zhang says. Rooted in traditions focused on attracting luck and family unity, homes are thoroughly cleaned to remove bad luck, decorated with red lanterns, and married relatives give red envelopes, or hóngbāo, with money to children and younger unmarried family members.
This year is especially symbolic, Zhang adds. “This year is the Year of the Horse, which stands for energy, progress and courage. Ireland has given our New Year new and special memories.”
The University’s Chinese Society brings the festival to campus with a variety of activities. “We have prepared a dragon dance, cultural activities like calligraphy and Chinese painting, snacks and a space for communication. Everyone is welcome to join,” Zhang says. The University of Galway has a long history of engagement with China and has been home to Chinese students for more than 30 years.
Key traditions are central to the society’s celebrations. A reunion dinner emphasises family unity, while symbolic foods such as dumplings for wealth, fish for surplus and rice balls for togetherness are enjoyed. Wearing red clothing is traditional to welcome the new year with joy and the festival concludes with a Lantern Festival on the 15th day. Fireworks and firecrackers are lit to scare away evil spirits, while dragon and lion dances bring good fortune.
Celebrating cultural festivals on campus helps students feel connected, Zhang says. “It is the best way to show our culture and build cultural pride. Celebrating different festivals helps us feel less lonely in a new environment, brings us closer and deepens our friendship. It is also a chance for us to give back to the University of Galway and our teachers for their warm welcome,” Zhang adds.
This year’s celebrations promise to combine tradition with community engagement. Students can enjoy cultural demonstrations, food and performances that showcase Chinese traditions while also sharing them with the wider university community.
Eamon Chin is a Multimedia Reporter for SIN. He is a first-year journalism student at the University of Galway. He is passionate about reporting on current affairs in student life, social issues, and local news affecting young people. Outside the newsroom, he enjoys music, creating digital content, and travelling.