Celebrating the Year of the Horse: SBBS Community Marks Lunar New Year
The celebration brought together around 70 attendees for an afternoon of cultural exchange and creativity. Staff and students enjoyed hands-on activities including calligraphy, writing Spring Couplets, crafting incense bags, paper-cutting and lantern making, alongside a friendly game of Mahjong. Organised with support from dedicated student volunteers, the event created a welcoming space to share traditions, connect as a community and mark the start of the Year of the Horse together.
SBBS marked Chinese/Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, with a vibrant celebration in the 3rd Floor Hub at Fogg. Rooted in centuries of tradition, the festival is a time to welcome renewal, spend time with community and family, and reflect on the year ahead. Each year in the Chinese zodiac is represented by an animal, and this year welcomes the Year of the Horse, a sign traditionally associated with energy, perseverance and forward momentum.
The event drew a fantastic turnout of around 70 attendees, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere throughout the afternoon. Staff and students had the opportunity to experience a range of traditional activities, including trying their hand at calligraphy and writing Spring Couplets to express hopes for good fortune in the year ahead. Making incense bags was also popular, alongside intricate paper-cutting and handmade lantern building, showcasing the craftsmanship and cultural heritage associated with the festival. A friendly game of Mahjong brought people together in the spirit of New Year social traditions, while a selection of refreshments and tea allowed everyone to enjoy a taste of the celebrations.
The celebration was organised by EDI Co-Lead Guifen Chen, with support from students including Yiting Feng, Xiuting Yang, Tianrun Liu, Lan Xu, Jieying Huang and Yuqian Huang, whose help ensured the afternoon ran smoothly.
Overall, the event provided an opportunity to recognise an important cultural tradition, encourage cross-cultural engagement within the School, and bring staff and students together to begin the new year with a shared sense of community. We're excited to see where the Year of the Horse takes us!