In obedience to tradition and a sense of true patriotism, the Confucius Institute of the University of Liberia (CIUL), over the weekend held an elaborate program in commemoration of the Chinese Springs Festival, commonly known as the called “Lunar New Year”, it is an annual 15-day festival in Chinese communities around the world that begins with the new moon that occurs sometime between January 21 and February 20 according to Western calendars.
However, this year as it is celebrated by millions around the world, this is a time for cultural traditions, family reunions, and hopes for good fortune in the coming year as these festivities last until the following full moon. In 2025, Lunar New Year falls on January 29, kicking off the 16-day Spring Festival.
2025 brings the Snake’s wise and intuitive energy. The Snake, symbolizing wisdom and transformation, offers opportunities for personal growth and change. The holiday according to the Chinese, is sometimes called the Lunar New Year because the dates of celebration follow the phases of the moon. Since the mid-1990s people in China it has been given seven consecutive days off work during the Chinese New Year.
The Lunar New year celebration with students studying Chinese as their second language and other stakeholders under the theme” Year of the Snake, Keep Your Spirits Awake.”
Here in Liberia, the festival was organized by authorities of the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia, and was well attended by students of the institute including Journalists, professors, teachers from the various teaching points in Monrovia at its 13th Street staff compound. The event also featured Chinese traditional Songs, Dance, Poetry, and Comic Dialogue among other activities.
Zhou Hongzhuan, is the Co-Director of CIUL, she explained to students, the importance of the Spring Festival to China and its people. Director Hongzhuan schooled the students and guests through the many “remarkable” activities that are carried out to befit the celebration.
She named some of those key activities as spring cleaning, paper cutting, sprint couplet, family reunion dinner, firing of firecrackers among others. Madam Hongzhuan, indicated that these celebrations are done as a way of saying goodbye to the old year and bring forth the luck and prosperity of the new one.
She admonished Liberian students studying Chinese here and abroad to take their lessons seriously, saying there are lots of job opportunities awaiting them. Prof. Hongzhuan also said, the Spring Festival does not only belong to the Chinese but also the Liberian people. Spring Festival is a Chinese People’s social practice of celebrating the traditional New Year which has been included in the UNESCO representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2024.
“It’s an incredible honor and joy to celebrate this vibrant gala as it’s all about the cultural exchange that united us,” CIUL Co-Director emphasized.
Professor Dexter S. Sumo, Director of CIUL, further highlighted the positive impact of China-Liberian relations in various sectors of Liberia, including government, business, and ordinary citizens. “The achievements of China according to him, are visible in every corner of our country,” he said. “institute is working collaboratively with the University of Liberia to build stronger human relationships.”
Professor Sumo also noted that CIUL has successfully trained numerous Liberians who are now fluent in Chinese and representing Liberia on the international stage. He encouraged parents to involve their children in Chinese language studies, as learning Chinese offers numerous career opportunities. “We invite every Liberian interested in learning Chinese to visit CIUL and pursue their dreams,” he added. Through events like these, CIUL continues to promote cultural exchange and strengthen ties between Liberia and China.
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, marks the start of a new https://chinesenewyear.net/lunar-new-year-2025-guide-year-of-the-snake/zodiac cycle based on the Chinese lunar calendar.
