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Archive -Seychelles

Chinese New Year 2017 - Confucius certificate presentation marks Spring Festival celebrations |27 January 2017

 

The Confucius Institute of the University of Seychelles hosted a Spring Festival celebrations for 2017  at the Chilli Bar, La Louise on Wednesday evening, as part of cultural activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year. 

The year 2017 is the year of the Rooster, when all your dreams come true. Based on the Chinese lunar calendar, new year falls on January 28 in 2017, with festivities continuing for up to two weeks. Celebrations revolve around reunion, harmony and ensuring good luck for the coming year. 

In Chinese astrology each zodiac year is associated with an animal sign, plus one of the five elements - so 2017 is the year of the rooster, and the element is fire. It's a rare combination, last seen in 1957, and augurs well for those prepared to work hard.

Activities at Wednesday’s festivals included the presentation of certificates to students who successfully followed courses in Chinese language and culture at the institute: cultural performances from both Chinese and Seychellois groups like dances, poems, readings, riddles and also a banquet.

Students were awarded certificates in all levels from 1 to 5 from Mrs Annie Laurette, Chinese Local Director. Charlie Ng Ping Cheung came out best student. There were also those who excelled in their studies.

Present were the new ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Seychelles Yu Jinsong; Idith Alexander, Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture; Benjamine Rose, Principal Secretary of Culture; Wang Dongxia, Director of Confucius Institute and other officials and invited guests from the Department of Education; Department of Culture; Chinese embassy; Unisey, foreign Chinese celebrities who are in Seychelles and students of the institute.

The Confucius Institute of Seychelles is three years old. And like its partners all over the world, it was set up by the People’s Republic of China to meet the sharp increase in the world’s demands for Chinese learning. This non-profit institution has as main aim promoting Chinese language and culture in foreign countries. By the end of 2016, there are 2.1 million Chinese learners in 511 Conficius Institutes and 1073 Confucius classrooms in 140 countries in the world.

“Regarding the Chinese language, I was very surprised during the China Day celebrations to hear young Seychellois singing popular Chinese songs in Chinese. My congratulations to you and I hope you continue learning this language. It is a bit difficult but very beautiful,” said the Chinese ambassador. She added it is just a way of learning the Chinese culture but also a way to earn their living.

Ms Dongxia said three years have passed since Confucius Institute started classrooms in the University of Seychelles and received lots of support and help.

“The job of the Confucius Institute is to teach Chinese; to promote the cultural exchange between a lot of countries and cooperation in several fields,” she said. She expressed the wish of more support in the future and hope to do more for Seychellois friends.

Professor Dennis Hardy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Seychelles said Unisey was very fortunate for the first three years of Confucius in Seychelles because some members who were there during its set up are still here. On the rooster itself, Mr Hardy said it is a symbol of punctuality and fidelity because every morning the rooster would wake you up. But it also has another function that of getting rid of bad spirit.

On the cultural side Mr Hardy said one of the nice things being in Seychelles is there are so many different cultures.

“When it comes to something like celebrating the New Year, we don’t just do it once. We can do it several times. There is a tradition celebration of the New Year from December 31. That calls for a party. And now we have this wonderful Spring Festival that’s our second party. If we were clever we would invite to the university people from other cultures too,” said Mr Hardy.

Professor Hardy also suggested several resolutions we can make during this Spring Festival and Year of the Rooster; among them are to avoid chicken and chips and learn Chinese.

 

 

 

Cultural performances

 

 

 

 

 

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