Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1335208
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 JANUARY 2021 4 CULTURE THE Spring Festival, more com- monly known as the Chinese New Year, is the festival which marks the end of the lunar cal- endar year and celebrates the beginning of a new year. To the Chinese people, the Chi- nese New Year is the biggest and most important feast. Usu- ally celebrated around the end of January or the beginning of February, it is a time for families to be together. Many Chinese people who work or study away from home will make it a point to return home and be with their families, to eat tradition- al food together and exchange gifts. Nowadays, Chinese New Year is celebrated all around the world; in Malta the China Cul- tural Centre organises its year- ly series of activities under the umbrella brand of "Happy Chi- nese New Year". Besides being a time for families to catch up, the Spring Festival also marks the end of winter and celebrates the coming of spring. Measures to prevent the spread of COV- ID-19 will be in place at all times during the HCNY events. The program of HCNY events is as follows: Chinese Zodiac Creativity Ex- hibition - Beat the Odds in the Year of the Ox This exhibition illustrates the Chinese zodiac culture through colourful and innovative de- signs in digital art. The exhi- bition will mainly focus on the legends, myths and symbolism associated with the zodiac an- imal of the year 2021, the Ox. Those born in the Year of the Ox are thought to be strong, dependable and hard working. This informative online exhi- bition is a true representation of the traditions related to the Chinese New Year festive cul- ture. Date: February 4, 2021 Location: China Cultural Centre in Malta Facebook page Chinese Twelve Zodiac Exhibi- tion The Chinese Zodiac is com- posed of a twelve year re- peating cycle and each year is represented by its own zodiac animal. This exhibition will il- lustrate the twelve zodiac an- imals through digital art sur- rounding Pjazza Teatru Rjal. It will focus on the legends, myths and symbolism of each of the zodiac animals, name- ly, the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. People will be able to identi- fy and learn more about their own zodiac animal. Date: February 4, 2021 Location: Pjazza Teatru Rjal Streaming of Puccini's "Turan- dot", performed by the China National Opera The year 2021 was meant to be the year the CCC would invite the China National Opera to Malta, alas, due to the current delicate situation of the world, this was not possible. Never- theless, the CCC in collabora- tion with the Mediterranean Conference Centre is bringing Puccini's final masterpiece,"- Turandot", performed by the China National Opera to every- one's home. It will be available to stream for free on the 7th of February on the Mediterrane- an Conference Centre's offi- cial website. In this tale set in mythical China, Princess Tur- andot will marry the man who can decipher three impossible riddles. Many have tried and many have failed and the price of failure is death by beheading. This extraordinary production direct from Beijing is a grand spectacle filled with dramatic plot twists, huge choruses and one memorable heart breaking melody after another starring the world renowned soprano Yao Hong, tenor Li Shuang and conducted by the masterful Yuan Ding. The Mediterrane- an Conference Centre will also have a private viewing where the media is invited to attend and the opera will also be aired on ONE TV. Date: February 7, 2021 Venue: Mediterranean Con- ference Centre, Mediterranean Conference Centre's official website, ONE TV Happy Chinese New Year On- line Get-Together The Happy Chinese New Year Online Get-Together is jointly organised by the CCC and the Confucius Institute in Malta. It will be open to the public, students of the CCC and Chi- nese cultural enthusiasts. This online get-together will in- clude a quiz with many prizes to be won, as well as, cultural discussions. We invite the par- ticipants to share any of their talents with us such as martial arts, song and dance. The event aims to encourage participants to get into the festive spirit of the Chinese New Year and also to take the opportunity to learn something new about China. Date: February 9, 2021 Location: ZOOM "Happy Chinese New Year - China Film Festival" The 2nd "Happy Chinese New Year - China Film Festi- val" was organised by the CCC and Spazju Kreattiv whereby six classic Chinese films were selected. "Fist of Legend" stars the marvellous Jet Li in riveting and intricately choreographed kung fu fight scenes. The crit- ically acclaimed "Farewell my Concubine" won numerous awards including the Palme d'Or and Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Set in 1924, the sumptuously colourful cinematography and superbly acted deep emotions are bound to enthral audienc- es. The films cover a range of genres such as action, thrill- er, romance, drama and his- torical fiction. "Shock Wave", "Once Upon a Time in Tibet", "Buddha Mountain" and "The World" will also be screened during this festival. These films allow audiences to understand and explore China's past and present. Tickets can be bought through the Spazju Kreattiv website. Date: February 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 18, 2021 Location: Spazju Kreattiv "Imagining China" Children's Art Exhibition The 12th "Imagining China" Children's Art Competition is co-organised by the CCC and the Ministry for Education, sponsored by Shanghai Elec- tric Power (Malta) Holding Ltd. The theme of this com- petition, "Magnificent China", was welcomed by the children and boosted bilateral cultural exchange between China and Malta. The CCC was thrilled to receive so many works of art brimming with creativity and conveying children's won- derful impressions of China and Chinese culture. Selected works from this competition will be exhibited on a weekly basis in an online exhibition on the China Cultural Centre in Chinese New Year in Malta programme