Events will welcome Chinese New Year across UK

The island of Jersey will host a 15-day Lunar New Year festival from Feb 10, which will feature traditional dragon and lion dances, food markets with music and entertainment, and activity booklets enabling young people to learn about the Chinese language and culture.

Music, another form of art that brings people together, will be showcased in Birmingham, England, when Xiao Di, a Chinese piano professor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, hosts her 12th annual Didi & Friends Chinese New Year Concert on Feb 8, where musicians from different genres will play a mix of traditional Chinese and Western pieces.

Daniele Rosina, director of orchestral studies at the University of Birmingham who will be a conductor for the concert, said he feels "honored" to take part in the celebrations.

"I love the Chinese New Year culture with all of its traditions, symbolism, and ancient customs," said Rosina, who has many Chinese friends and students both in the UK and in Beijing.

"I often go to Chinatown to see the festivities, the fantastic decorations, and to eat some incredible food. For me, the most wonderful thing about Chinese New Year is the strong emphasis on families coming together to share this happy time."