Celebrations to mark Chinese New Year 2023 return to Belfast this weekend to welcome the Year of the Rabbit!
Also known as the Lunar New Year, celebrations take place around the world including Belfast and there are lots of fun events happening around the city.
Celebrations for Chinese New Year 2023 last up to 16 days marking the transition between zodiac signs: 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, following the Year of the Tiger.
Read more: New bars, restaurants and cafes in Belfast to check out in 2023
The Year of the Rabbit, more specifically Water Rabbit, starts this Sunday, January 22, and lasts until February 9, 2024.
In Chinese astrology, the Rabbit is described as “clever, cultured and creative”, but it is only the animals that are the most compatible with the Rabbit that will have the most luck this year.
Here are details of some events happening in Belfast this weekend:
Cooking with Suzie Lee at Waterman House
Waterman House in Belfast’s buzzing Cathedral Quarter will welcome Suzie Lee for a Chinese New Year celebration on Saturday, 21 January at 1.30pm.
During a lunchtime cookery demonstration, Suzie will showcase exciting dishes from her latest book "Simply Chinese".
Full details here.
Chinese New Year Celebration 2023
The Chinese New Year Celebration returns to the Ulster Hall on Sunday, 22 January where you can share in the spirit of the festivities as the city prepares to welcome another year.
Come to enjoy a day full of fun and joy, rich in colours and culture with over 12 global dances and music.
More details here.
Chinese Brushes in Belfast and Beyond
As we enter the Year of the Rabbit, the ArtEast Club is presenting an inclusive exhibition in collaboration with the Ulster Museum on Sunday, 29 January and continuing with an online exhibition facilitated by The Language Centre at Queen’s.
This event will feature a display of paintings by the ArtEast NI Club members, a talk and panel discussion with the artists discussing their themes, styles, and techniques, and an interactive workshop to encourage hands-on practice (e.g. painting, calligraphy, paper artefacts) under the guidance of the artists.
Please see timings for these below:
12noon - 5pm: Display of paintings in the atrium
2pm: Talk and panel discussion in the Grainger Room
3pm: Interactive workshops in the Grainger Room
This half-day event is family-friendly and free for all and more information is available here.
Mad Hatters Tea Party
Elsewhere the Chinese Welfare Association NI are hosting Mad Hatters Tea Party this Saturday, 21 January from 3.30-5.30pm at the Chinese Resource Centre on Stranmillis Embankment.
There will be lots of games, food and fun. Families need to come along with hats. crazy hats, baseball caps, anything as long as you bring a hat.
The event will be hosted by the Mad Hatter himself and there will be appearances from Alice and friends too.
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