Welcome in Chinese New Year of the snake

Buy photos » A Chinese snake meets Mollie Stoodley, eight, Fay Yeng, Oliver Cockram, six and Georgia Woods, five, at Mount Carmel Catholic First School. Picture by Marcus Mingins 0613015MMR

RESIDENTS are being invited to join the borough's Chinese community to welcome in the Year of the Snake.

The Chinese New Year celebrations begin on Sunday (February 10) and Redditch Chinese Association is planning a host of activities to mark the occasion.

It will culminate with a special show at the Palace Theatre on Monday, February 18.

In the run up to the event members of the association will be holding special assemblies, teaching children about Chinese culture, customs and music.

Children from St Bede's Catholic Middle School are getting involved by making a dragon and pupils at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic First School are creating a snake character to be used during a theatre piece called Why the snake danced? A tale about working hard, finding your talent and following your dreams to be performed during the Palace Theatre event.

The show itself will feature the Chinese Lion Dance, traditional Chinese dances from the Birmingham Chinese School and students from the Birmingham Conservatoire will perform Chinese music.

Before the main event, residents are invited to come and experience the art of lantern making, Chinese calligraphy and ribbon dancing. There will also be the chance to watch a demonstration of the Chinese Tea Ceremony.

Fay Yeng, who is helping to organise the events, said: "The snake is often misunderstood in Western cultures. In China they are revered, ambitious and wise, good at business, fun, a good friend and very loyal."

Miss Yeng also runs the Yum Tum Club and is running a series of Lucky Noodle Workshops in schools as part of the celebrations.

"Noodles are a symbolic meal eaten at Chinese New Year. We actually have them for breakfast. The long ones represent long life, egg for fertility and cucumber and lettuce for vitality," she added.

The main show starts at 6pm and tickets cost £5 for adults, £3 for children and £14 for a family ticket. The pre-show events take place between 4.30pm and 5.30pm and are free.

Visit www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk to book or call the box office on 01527 65203.

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