February at the Confucius Institute is marked by the Chinese New Year

On February 17, the Confucius Institute of BrSU celebrates the Chinese New Year. The festivities started in early February. They also passed the day before. The participants of the events were students of the partner schools of the Confucius Institute - Lyceum and secondary school No. 3 in Zhabinka, Brest Regional Lyceum named after P.M. Masherov, secondary school No. 28 in Brest, as well as students of Chinese language courses, students and teachers of BrSU.

To welcome the year of the fiery horse, the Confucius Institute organized workshops on carving paired inscriptions, making Chinese lanterns, and an exhibition of the best creative works by students of the younger age group. Traditionally, a festive New Year's concert was held at the partner schools of the Confucius Institute in Zhabinka. On February 16, the Confucius Institute summed up the results of 2025 and presented a work plan for 2026. The leadership of BrSU, headed by Rector Yury Petrovich Holubeu, highly appreciated the work of the Institute, congratulated the Chinese colleagues on the upcoming New Year and wished them further success and achievements. The festive events will end on February 24 with a creative program, which is being prepared jointly with the Dialogue of Cultures Club.

For reference. Chinese New Year literally translates as "Spring Festival". The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar: the holiday falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. Thus, each time the New Year in China falls on a different date between January 21 and February 20. In 2026, it falls on February 17th.

According to legend, the origin of the Chinese New Year is closely related to the myth of the monster Nyong'o. He came on a festive day to eat crops, animals, and even a few villagers, among whom there were often children who were particularly attractive to the monster. Only one boy in red clothes managed to escape. Since then, the Chinese believe that the red color scares the monster, and therefore is able to protect both themselves and their homes. It is customary to decorate houses outside with pictures wishing all the best, patterns and red lanterns.

New Year in China is a time of family reunification and generational unity. A festive table is served daily in Chinese families during the New Year season. No one goes to bed after dinner, so as not to miss their future happiness. On the eve of the Chinese New Year, it is customary to put the house in perfect order to get rid of all the bad things and bring all the good things that the new year brings with it to a clean home.

It is customary to exchange gifts on the first day of the year. As a rule, they give something paired, indicating the value of family ties. Children often receive money from their parents in invariably red envelopes. Chinese people often spend the first days of the new year (usually all that are official weekends) visiting relatives, friends or neighbors. It is customary to bring a couple of tangerines with you. There is a tradition to take other tangerines with you in return. This fruit symbolizes monetary well-being.

The holiday does not take place without city festivities, noisy fireworks, and traditional dances. One of them is the dragon dance, associated with Chinese celebrations. The rumble and crackle of fireworks are designed to scare away evil spirits who are just waiting to settle in every house in the new year. By detonating firecrackers, people say goodbye to the old year and welcome the advent of the new one.

Confucius Institute
Photo by Natalia Petrova