Chinese New Year Spring Celebration starts on Feb 12, 2021. This year, we are celebrating the year of the Ox. This virtual meet-up was arranged to share diversity and culture, for friend to learn about other ethnic communities, so, the next time when one travels to a location of a different culture, some background knowledge would be there to help in exploring and learning about the place. Since Local Guides like us are explorers, and knowing more knowledge will help us in our contributions as we explore other cultural locations.
Today’s meetup was attended by over 60 people from all over the world! Averagely, about 45 of us stayed on throughout most of the meetup, which was really humbling to know so many keen to learn about someone else’s culture. Our meetup was 1 hour long, and we tried not to extend it too long.
Our meet up RSVP Page: https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/Virtual-Meet-up-9-Feb-Chinese-New-Year-Spring-Festival-2021/td-p/2854294
[Picture below] We had a minimal set of slides just to guide the meet-up so an agenda was followed. We started having everyone quickly introducing themselves, and there were quite a lot of new friends whom I personally didn’t know before. So it was an amazing experience just to get to know new people.
[Picture below] After learning about the many different celebrations for ethnic Chinese community throughout the world, which are celebrated by all people of ethnic Chinese origin (not only people in China), we spent a few minutes learning how to wish friends who celebrate the Chinese New Year in Chinese Mandarin. This would come in useful when greeting friends.
[Picture below] Then we spent a few minutes listening to a wonderful story on how the Chinese New Year Spring Festival came to be, and why there are red lanterns, red decorations, drums, fire crackers, red packets and more. Most attendees found this most interesting.
We had used this video which was found on public YouTube. (Credit to the owner of the public YouTube video in the original link) Feel free to watch the video via this link.
We then had a sharing session by friends who had experience visiting some Chinese ethnic celebrations where they live.
[Picture below] We then watched a short video of a few of the many delicious foods that are eaten during Chinese New Year and their meaning. These include longevity noodles, spring rolls, dumplings, whole fish, oranges, nian gao, and much more.
We had used this video which was found on public YouTube. (Credit to the owner of the public YouTube video in the original link). Feel free to watch the video via this link.
And after that, some sharing from participants on some of their favorite Chinese food.
[Picture below] One of the many important cultural activities during Chinese New Year is the lion dance. We watched 2 videos on what the lion dance is, and how incredible the performers are to be able to perform this.
Watch the a few videos on public YouTube here.
(Credit to the owner of the public YouTube video in the original link). Video: A real lion dance performance
And we had participants sharing their experiences watching them in real life too.
[Picture below] We also then had a short “sing along” of a meaningful Chinese New Year song. Gong Xi, Gong Xi, which means Congratulations for Chinese New Year.
(Credit to the owner of the public YouTube video in the original link) Watch the meaningful song with the lyrics here on Public Youtube.
[Picture below] A few of the many personal sharing by participants (not everyone was captured in picture), which really made the session a really united with a feeling of “togetherness”. There were many others who shared as well, and do read the comments below about some of their experiences with Chinese New Year.
[Picture below] Our Local Guides family putting our hands together to wish everyone here in Local Guides Connect Happy Chinese New Year 新年快乐 (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè) and 恭喜发财 (Gong Xi Fa Cai). Such amazing friends. Thank you so much.
Personally for me, it was just such an amazingly friendly, cordial, family feeling meet-up. And although most of us are not alike, different in ethnicity, culture, creed, faith, location, nationality, and more… we came together as a single family, sharing common respect and understanding for all our uniqueness. That’s the beauty of the united Local Guides family. Everyone is unique and special, and equal, and important.
For everyone who had joined in this meet-up, a very special thanks, and hope to hear your personal experience about the meet-up below. And hope many others will also take the same opportunity to share your own culture and celebration so the rest of us can also learn and understand the beauty of the diversity in this world we live in.
Credit to all the respective YouTube video creators in each shared link to their original public YouTube videos.
Credit to everyone who took the respective screenshots during the meetup.
Great job. Look forward to participating in more. Hopefully when we get our of daylight saving it might help a little bit. Lol.
Looks like everyone had lots of fun and learnt something new. 
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