Science and Technology Confucius Institute at the Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU) is sending its sincere, heartfelt and cordial New Year Greetings to the BNTU administration, teaching staff and students, Chinese students and personnel working at our Confucius Institute, ALL OUR COLLEAGUES involved in implementation of the Confucius Institute project.
Prior to write about our program for the Chinese new year we would like to tell you about the most popular myth because it explains one of the traditions that there are in modern Chinese society today.
In ancient times, there was a monster named Nián (年). It lived at the bottom of the deep sea and it used to come out once a year to feast on animals and humans. On this day, the villagers usually left their houses for mountains in order to save their lives.
One year, a beggar came with the request to give him a shelter for a night, but all the villagers were hurrying away because the monster Nián was coming. Only an old woman took the beggar in and he promised to defend her from Nian and chase it away. He started to decorate the village houses.
At midnight, Nian came but it was surprise to see red paper on house doors. As it roared in anger, firecrackers suddenly started to make terrible noise and Nián began to tremble in fear. But When it saw the beggar, dressed in red, laughing at it, Nián was frightened to death and ran away.
The villagers returned to their homes and understood that loud noises of firecrackers and red color of the beggar’s dress appeared to be Nián’s kryptonites.
That is why, on New Year’s eve, Chinese people are giving preference to red decorations and at midnight they are setting off firecrackers and wearing new and festive red dresses.
In 2018, Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival) begins on February 16th and ends March 2nd with Lantern Festival.
Following Chinese new year traditions Science and Technology Confucius Institute at the Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU) has prepared a special program of events which are devoted to the most popular Chinese festival.
Our Institute is planning to organize a New Year exhibition at the main building of The Belarusian National Technical University.
THE BNTU Confucius Institute personnel has an intention to visit a number of Belarusian educational institutions having various status (University – Belarusian State Technological University; Academy – Belarusian State Academy of Aviation; gymnasium – Minsk Gymnasium No.40; school, college, lyceum) with the purpose to demonstrate Chinese cultural traditions and give master classes on paper cutting, calligraphy and tea ceremony.
Let the Year of the Dog bring us Success, Health, Wealth and Prosperity!!!!
