With the magic of Christmas behind us and New Year’s resolutions in full swing, we’re already waiting for the next big event to look forward to. While our Western New Year is based around the Gregorian calendar and is the same date every year, the Chinese New Year coincides with the lunar calendar. The first day of the month begins during the new moon meaning the Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year. This year, Chinese New Year falls on Saturday, February 10th, 2024, starting a year of the Dragon. Birmingham City are hosting a great range of events on Sunday, February 11th to mark this very special occasion.
The Year of Dragon
There are 12 Chinese zodiac signs, which rotate by year, not by month. This year marks the start of a year of the Dragon, more specifically the Wood Dragon, starting from February 10th and lasting until January 28th, 2025. The Chinese horoscope predicts that the Year of the Dragon in 2024 will bring luck, wealth, and power, with strong leadership skills and attractive personalities, across all zodiac signs. According to Chinese zodiac predictions, Dragons, Goats, Dogs, Oxes, and Rabbits are more likely to face challenges this year due to opposing Tai Sui (Jupiter), the deity governing fortune. People born in the year of the dragon are said to be confident, intelligent, and enthusiastic.
Chinese New Year Traditions
The Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival and is taken very seriously in China. It has been celebrated for thousands of years with commemorations varying depending on the region of China. The celebration is centred around removing the bad and the old and welcoming the new and the good. It’s a time to worship ancestors, exorcise evil spirits and pray for a good harvest. In the run-up to the new year, people will clean and declutter their homes and decorate them with red couplets, lanterns, new flowerpots and furniture. Celebrations at home include banquets and in the community, you’ll see traditional dancing fairs and flower markets. It’s a time for families and senior members of the family give the younger ones good luck known as Ya Sui Qian contained in red envelopes. Families burn incense to worship their ancestors and there is plenty of food and drink to enjoy.
Chinese New Year 2024
Did you know the population of Birmingham is 3.2% Chinese? Or that we have the largest Chinese population in the UK outside of Manchester? Our Chinese neighbours, colleagues and friends celebrate this very special time with their communities for 8 days in their home countries but Birmingham is dedicating a day of fun and festivities to this important date. Birmingham Lunar New Year Festival 2024 will take place on Sunday 11 February 2024 with events across the city centring in Chinatown. The festival is produced by Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee and Birmingham Chinatown Business Association and all are welcome to join the celebrations.
Lunar New Year Birmingham 2024
We’re delighted to see the return of this very special festival after a great celebration in 2023. Celebrations will take place mostly in Chinatown, in and around Birmingham Hippodrome, and throughout Southside including the Chinese Quarter. Expect dancing dragons, traditional folk music, delicious Chinese street food, fireworks, family activities and much more. We’re excited for the traditional waking of the Lion ‘Dim Jing’ and Dragon dances representing power, strength, and good luck. Children will love Pom Pom the giant ten-foot Panda. It’s a brilliant multicultural celebration with plenty of activities and the chance to discover the fascinating Eastern culture for yourself. The full lineup is to be announced and you can keep up to date on their website or social media.
Accommodation for Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a busy time in our Serviced apartments in Birmingham. We have an influx of tourists who want to experience our brilliant celebrations for themselves and people travel from all over to share this holiday with their Chinese family in Birmingham. Our serviced apartments offer comfortable and flexible accommodation for all travellers – especially families – with all of the space and facilities of a home-from-home. We’re excited to welcome guests for this very special occasion and look forward to joining in the celebrations. Our best available rates and exclusive special offers can only be found when you book directly with our team or on our official website.
