94 students from St Mary Magdalene Academy had the privilege to go to Central London to celebrate Chinese New Year. They enjoyed many traditional festivities, as well as time to spend in Chinatown.

The students began the day with a trip to Asia House, an institution with expertise on Asia, particularly in terms of business and politics. The organisation offers a cultural learning programme, which spreads Asian culture to the people of London. This year, Asia offered their annual lion dance performance to welcome the year of the rooster. The lion dance is a typical way for people to celebrate Chinese New Year. It is thought (according to legend, at least) to originate with the Tang dynasty. The Tang emperor is said to have had a dream in which his life was saved by a mysterious creature he had never seen before. After describing the animal to his ministers, one of them suggested it was a lion. Ever since, people have enjoyed watching lion dances as part of their celebrations. The lion dance involves two performers dressed as a lion, which dances around a crowd eating the lettuce prepared for it. It will then scatter it around the crowd, an action thought to symbolise a fresh start for the New Year.

Students also had the chance to place their wishes for the coming year on a wishing tree. A wishing tree is another common Chinese tradition, in which people write down their wishes and hang it on trees. These trees are often thought to possess some kind of spiritual value. Originally, people would throw their wishes into the tree, in the hope that they would land on one of the higher branches. It was thought that the higher the branch the wish landed on, the more secure you were in your hope your wish would come true.

After their visit to Asia house, students enjoyed a meal in Chinatown with their friends, similar to the family reunion dinners which happen every year all over China. Many different dishes will be served, but fish is an essential part of the meal. A surplus will intentionally be served, stemming from the Chinese phrase ‘having surplus every year’ and the fact that that the word ‘surplus’ sounds the same as the word for ‘fish’. Needless to say, this rule was not heeded during the meal in Chinatown.

Chinese New Year may not be something many of us in the UK celebrate, but it is linked to an interesting and incredibly detailed tapestry of mythology. There is no tradition during Chinese New Year which isn’t linked to a fascinating piece of insight into Chinese Culture or Chinese history. This, perhaps, is why the annual school trip to Chinatown has been such a success, because it gives students a chance to experience a shred of a new corner of the world – if not the culture and stories, then at least the excellent food.

Emma Aarts

St Mary Magdalene Academy