The Lunar New Year, better known as the Chinese New Year, marks the transition of the Chinese zodiac sign from one animal to the next.
2023 marks the Year of the Rabbit, which will begin on January 22.
Symbolising longevity, peace and prosperity in Chinese culture, 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope.
The Cosmopolitan Arts have an array of events, in Nottingham, Derby and Leicester, for you to get involved in to celebrate and bring in the Lunar New Year.
Here are some events they have on in these cities and some other ways you can take part in bringing in the New Year at home:
1. Exhibition and Chinese Arts Workshop
The exhibition will show seven documentaries, each one covering a decade from the 1950s to the 2010s and featuring at least one representative from each community to have migrated from China during that decade.
At the arts workshops, people will be able to take part in calligraphy, paper cutting, trying traditional foods and playing Chinese games.
2. Traditional Chinese procession
Starting in Old Market Square, there will be a traditional Chinese procession featuring dragons, lions, dancers and music going around the city centre and ending back in Old Market Square.
3. Spectacular large scale performance
The traditional Chinese procession will be followed by a spectacular large scale performance with fireworks, pyrotechnics, lion dance and music for all Nottingham locals to enjoy.
4. Chinese New Year show at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery
This event will feature tradition and contemporary dance and musical performances from Guzheng virtuoso Xiao Xing.
This series of exhibitions will demonstrate the inspiring stories of Chinese communities and highlight their vibrancy, warmth and tenacity.
5. Re-create traditional Chinese recipes
In Chinese culture, there are seven foods considered to be lucky for bringing in the New Year.
These are fish, dumplings, spring rolls, good fortune fruit, tangyuan (sweet rice balls), longevity noodles and niangao (glutinous rice cake).
If public events are not your cup of tea, try making some of these traditional foods in the comfort of your own home.
