In the spirit of promoting cultural exchange and people to people relations, staff and faculty
members of Wuxi Fisheries College (WFC) delayed travelling to respective home towns in
order to host foreign students studying at the campus to an early 2016 Chinese new-year get together.
New year is an important holiday in China as it not only marks the beginning of the new
year but also rekindles moments of sharing, love and family reunification that sees multitudes
of Chinese returning to respective home towns in what is probably the biggest human
migration in the world.
In contrasts to Gregorian New Years days which fall on 1st January each year, the
foreign students were treated to a number of activities, foods and appreciated the
significance of Chinese New Years festivities through in indoor games and giving
of gifts as New Year goodwill gesture.
Professor Yuan Xinhua, Deputy Dean of Academics
hailed the foreign students for patronizing the event which goes a long way in deepening relations
and understanding of the Chinese culture among foreign students. Professor Yuan
hinted that family is the heart beat of Chinese society hence sustained cultural values
remain an important aspects for global social integration as China continues to open
up to a larger world community.
Chinese new year’ celebration are associated with many interesting legends and
myth centered on luck and prosperity such that taking medicine on the first day of
the year implies one would be sick all year round. Sweeping the house on this day
denotes throwing away ones luck, similarly wearing of rugged clothes is being
ungrateful.
Foreign students President, Baird Chilora expressed gratitude to WFC management
for the event which enhanced their understanding of Chinese New Year festival and
expressed hope that the same gesture be extended for other cultural festivals ahead
of the year. Each foreign country wished the Chinese colleagues best New Year
regards in respective home country`s local language. 2016 is the year of the
Monkey according to the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac signs.
