Lunar New Year festival offers 'sense of belonging'

For many Hongkongers who have settled in the UK, the Lunar New Year is more than a date in the cultural calendar — it is a moment to feel rooted, recognised and at home.

Lunar New Year is an annual celebration which coincides with the first new moon of the lunar calendar. It is celebrated by millions of people around the world, especially in east and south-east Asia.

In Bath, a celebration has been taking place for the last three years thanks to a group of volunteers, who noticed more Hong Kong families moving to the area following the 2019 anti-government protests.

"It is a very traditional Asian way of celebrating," said Teresa Lee, 72, who moved to Bath from Hong Kong when she was 19.

"It is a bit like Christmas. For many people it is very warming and brings them a bit of home comfort".

Teresa herself has been a source of comfort for many Hongkongers, helping hundreds of families to navigate life in Bath.

"I look at them and remind myself when I first arrived at 19 it was pretty hard to integrate into the local society," she said.

"A lot of people here are in their 40s or 50s and it is really hard to adjust to a new environment."

Along with other volunteers, she spearheaded the city's Lunar New Year celebration, which is taking place at Percy Community Centre on 21 February.

The festival involves craft activities like calligraphy and origami, as well as the traditional Lion Dance, which will be performed by students from the University of Bristol.

The event is partly-funded by Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) but is also ticketed, with surplus money being donated to families affected by the Tai Po fire in Hong Kong.

For Cherry Lee, 49, marking the festival together helps families balance new beginnings with the traditions they brought with them from their home country.

"We want to integrate in the local community, and by the same time, we don't want to lose the Chinese tradition and Hong Kong-style tradition to our next generation," she said.

"It's a sense of belonging, but at the same time, it's a sense of finding our own identity and keep the culture."

Cherry's son, 16-year-old Owen, said: "I really like the atmosphere during this festival, and I think it enhances a sense of unity, it brings everyone together to celebrate".

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