Enter the Dragon as Preston celebrates Chinese New Year
A TASTE of the Orient will be coming to Preston on Saturday, 31 January as local school children prepare to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a traditional Chinese Dragon Parade. Chinese New Year starts on Monday, 26th January and celebrations continue for 15 days ending on Monday 9th February with the Lantern Festival.
(Media-Newswire.com) - A TASTE of the Orient will be coming to Preston on Saturday, 31 January as local school children prepare to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a traditional Chinese Dragon Parade.
Chinese New Year starts on Monday, 26th January and celebrations continue for 15 days ending on Monday 9th February with the Lantern Festival.
Children from St Matthew's Church of England Primary School in Preston have been taking part in a number of Chinese themed activities to learn about and celebrate Chinese culture as part of Lancashire County Council's Library and Information Service Minority Ethnic Arts Programme.
Professional artists and representatives from Lancaster and Morecambe Bay Chinese Community Association have been working with schools to teach traditional Chinese drum and dance and painting of the Chinese Dragon at library venues across the county.
The children will showcase their new talents in a traditional Chinese Dragon Parade outside the Harris Library on Preston Flag Market at 2.00pm.
Here the colourful dragon is carried by dancers, mimicking its movement to the banging of traditional Chinese drums and cymbals.
Councillor Alan Whittaker, Chair of Lancashire County Council said:
“Lancashire County Council is very proud of its links with the Chinese community across Lancashire and I personally have been involved in some very successful exchanges with Children and Young People from our two communities both here in Lancashire and in China. I am very pleased that our library service is involved in the Dragon Making project."
As part of the project, the children have also taken part in a design a Dragon competition. The winner will be announced before the Dragon Dance begins and will then have the honour of carrying the 'Pearl', which is chased by the Dragon, to lead the parade.
For more information about Preston's Chinese Dragon Parade contact Preston Harris Library on 01772 532676
For further media enquiries only contact:
Andrew Lynn, Communication manager, 01772 534372 or email andrew.lynn@ssd.lancscc.gov.uk
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This story was released on 2009-01-29. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for additional information.