Intelligence and courage for the Chinese New Year
More than 200 people appeared on January 25th at CKS Mrowisko to take part in the Spring Festival, the celebration of the Chinese New Year. On this occasion, young people from China studying at the Silesian University of Technology prepared a lot of attractions for everyone.
On January 29th, 2025, we welcome the Chinese New Year, which is based on the lunar calendar. Its date is moving and always falls between January 21 and February 20. The patron of 2025 in China will be the snake.
It is one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. It symbolizes intelligence and courage. As a curiosity, I will say that the snake is called the “little dragon” in China, explains Dean of the Yanshan Institute of European University Yu Wen Liu. The beginning of the Chinese New Year is called Spring Festival. Spring also marks a new beginning in our country. The tradition of this event has been firmly rooted in Chinese culture for several thousand years. It is a time for us to unite, regardless of whether someone is far from home, even outside the country.
People in China celebrate for weeks. The most important traditions associated with the Chinese New Year include making and eating Chinese dumplings and sticking red paper on the doors and windows with a special symbol that is supposed to bring good luck. In addition, on the first day of the holiday, everyone greets themselves with the words: “Happy New Year.”
- This is the most important time of the year for us. It is like Christmas for Poles. There are many things in common in the way we spend our holidays. People meet, send their best wishes, cook, and eat together. We try to share our happiness with the Chinese New Year. We have prepared competitions for all, in which you can win prizes – explains students from China Yijun Song and Chaoqun Ma, who have already been in Poland for a year and a half. – We feel better and better here. People from Poland are very friendly. They help us when we have a problem. The beginnings were very difficult, because everything was quite new for us, but now we feel more and more comfortable. We also managed to visit several other cities, such as Krakow and Wroclaw.
All people who appeared in Mrowisko on that day received gifts, took part in the prize draw, and also received a list of tasks. After that, another reward was waiting for them. The organizers have prepared many other attractions for children and adults. In addition to numerous artistic performances, students from China taught, among others, the art of calligraphy.
The event was also attended by scientists from the Silesian University of Technology.
This event was organized for the second time and with great momentum. More than two hundred people registered to participate in the celebrations. Everyone came curious, including Poles, because they could learn something interesting. I literally "drowned" in Chinese culture, so I was very happy to participate in it - says Dr. Eng. Marcin Lemanowicz, coordinator of the Silesian University of Technology for cooperation with Chinese universities.
“We must remember that these are some of the most important days of the year in China, when residents travel around the country and visit their families. That is why we are trying to help students from China who cannot be with their loved ones at this time. We try to integrate with them, get to know their extremely interesting culture. I think that they could feel a substitute for their holiday here - says Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Silesian University of Technology Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Wojciech Simka.
Spring Festival was co-organized by the European Institute of Yanshan University and Welcome Point of the Silesian University of Technology.
“Chinese students are extremely open minded and willing to help with the organization of such events. There are more than 300 of them at our university. This academic year, some of them will carry out their first engineering projects - explains Dr. Eng. Anna Kiljan, coordinator of cooperation with Yanshan University.
- This is one of many events that are organized at the Silesian University of Technology for students from abroad. However, we also try to prepare for them events presenting the culture of our country. The next one will take place on January 28 at 17.00 in the Employees’ Club of the Silesian University of Technology, when we will present the traditions of the Polish carnival – invites the head of the International Relations Office Dr Eng. Grzegorz Kłapyta.
