In the News: Chinese get ready for the Year of the Ox

Here's a piece by Katie Campling in the "Huddersfield Daily Examiner" newspaper on Jan 14, 2009, which features our old friend John Lee, now living in the UK ...

An extravaganza of traditional celebrations will see in the Chinese New Year later this month.

Huddersfield Chinese Community Centre has organised a day of entertainment to celebrate the dawn of the Year of the Ox.

The event will be on Saturday January 24 at the National Children’s Centre at New North Parade – although Chinese New Year does not officially start until January 26.

The day of fun will start with a traditional Chinese lion dance at 11.30am, followed by demonstrations of martial art tai chi and a children’s music and dance performance.

A more energetic martial arts display of Taekwondo will take place after lunch, followed by a Chinese music performance and magic show.

There will also be a variety of stalls offering arts and crafts, food, jewellery, herbs and medicines and calligraphy.

It costs £1 for adults to visit the event and entry is free for under 12s.

Last year’s event at the start of the Year of the Rat attracted 600 people and the Association is hoping for a big attendance this year.

The Chinese New Year event is one of the highlight of the calendar for the Chinese Community Association, which is based at Cambridge Road.

John Lee, the new chairman of the Association’s board of trustees, said events like this helped attract people of all cultures to the association.

He said: “There will be something for everyone. People don’t have to be Chinese. The group is for anyone interested in the culture and history or in learning language such as Mandarin.

“It’s a chance to meet people and gain skills or join in activities. For instance, older people like to come and meet to play mah jong.”

Mr Lee is keen to promote the different activities the Association offers.

They include translation services, Mandarin language classes, tai chi classes, English classes and Chinese catering services for people in their homes.

Mr Lee said: “There are quite a number of Chinese origin people who don’t know we exist or what we offer.

“Chinese people tend to be quite spread around, we don’t all live the same community. So it’s good to have the group as a focal point.

“We do offer a wide range of things for all kinds of people.”

Way to go, John !

The original website can be found at http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2009/01/14/chinese-get-ready-for-the-year-of-the-ox-86081-22685416/