Dylan Thomas Centre hosts Temple Fair to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Snake

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Confucius Institute Chinese School in Swansea invites you to a vibrant celebration at the Dylan Thomas Centre on Sunday, 26 January 2025, to mark the arrival of the Year of the Snake.

Based on the idea of the ‘Miaohui’ or Temple Fair events that take place in China around the time of the New Year, this event will showcase Chinese culture through a series of engaging activities and workshops, creating a memorable experience for attendees by recreating the lively atmosphere and cultural vibrancy of these temple fair festivities.

This event exemplifies a community collaboration between teachers, students and parents of the Swansea-based UWTSD Confucius Institute Chinese School, along with UWTSD’s International student volunteers.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the beautifully decorated Vivian Hall, featuring a ‘Fu’ character wall symbolising prosperity and blessings for all. During the event, guests will be able to take part in activities such as Lucky Fortune Sticks, Wishing Tree, Spring Couplets Writing, Lion Dance workshop, block printing workshop, clay figurine making, Lantern Festival Relay game, and dressing up in traditional ‘Hanfu’ clothes and makeup.

Krystyna Krajewska, Executive Director of UWTSD’s Confucius Institute said:

“The Confucius Institute Chinese School Spring Festival event promises to be very colourful and exciting with plenty of different workshops and activities. What makes this event so special is that parents and children from the Chinese School are also running some of the stalls alongside our teachers and our UWTSD International student volunteers, making it a fabulous example of community engagement.

“Our students are very excited about sharing their culture and traditions with the public and very proud to be given this kind of responsibility (with plenty of support and supervision!) It is a unique element of our Chinese School, that we’re able to give our students this kind of opportunity. It means a lot to our Confucius Institute that we are able to provide this kind of cultural enrichment to the local community!”

Doors will be open from 10:30 to 14:30, and all are most welcome to join the festivities. This celebration promises to be a joyful and interactive experience for all ages.

For more information, please email Cindy Chen: c.chen@uwtsd.ac.uk