Barbados Held the 5th “Fish and Dragon Festival”
On January 23 (local time), the fifth “Fish and Dragon Festival” was kicked off at the Chinese-built Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, Barbados. More than 5,000 people attended the New Year Cultural Temple Fair of 2019, including people from the Chinese Embassy in Barbados, local residents, Chinese-Barbados associations, Chinese overseas medical teams, local Chinese-funded enterprises, and mainstream media reporters. The Confucius Institute at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, Barbados (the CI at Barbados), which was co-established and operated by CUPL, set up two booths to display the elements of traditional Chinese culture. The cultural exhibition covered a wide range of elements, including calligraphy, the Chinese Zodiac (Sheng Xiao), the “Collection of Chinese Scholar's Four Jewels” (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper), the Peking Opera mask, the express delivery car, etc.
(Photo of Confucius Institute Teachers and Students with Hebei Yuxian Paper-cutting Delegation)
The whole scene was full of colored lights, festive Chinese knots, and red lanterns. A big number of participants enjoyed a variety of traditional Chinese culture shows and DIY games, such as calligraphy, painting, papercutting, folk music, folk games and national costumes. The whole venue was filled with a “sense of Chinese New Year” as if it were a traditional Chinese temple fair. Overseas Chinese children studying Chinese in the CI were also invited to sing Chinese songs for the audience.
(Song with Dance—Let's Sway Twin Oars)
In the name of this festival, “fish” represents Barbadian famous specialty - flying fish, while, “dragon” represents China. During the “Fish and Dragon Festival”, games such as ferrule, guessing riddles, kicking scorpions and table tennis, which are common in Chinese temple fairs, attracted a large number of Barbados and overseas Chinese. People burst into joyful laughter during the game, which lifted the atmosphere of the temple fair to a new height. Many local residents have won trophies such as Chinese knots, Chinese dolls, and red lanterns. Through games and exhibitions, they came to know China, understand China, and developed their interest in China.
Centering around the theme of this “Fish and Dragon Festival”, teachers of the CI specifically mentioned the “establishment of diplomatic tie between China and Barbados” when designing cultural Q&As. Mr. Yan Xiusheng, Chinese Ambassador to Barbados, and Ms. Michelle Doyle-lowe, Deputy Chief Executive of the Central Bank of Barbados, attended the event.
(Miss Li Renyan was explaining the history of China- Barbados diplomatic relations)
All Teachers of the CI at Barbados Celebrated the Spring Festival at the Embassy in Barbados
On February 4 (local time), the multi-function hall of the Chinese Embassy in Barbados was full of lights and laughter. Over 40 participants, including teachers from the CI at Barbados, embassy officials and their family members, medical staff of the Barbados medical team, gathered for discussion and party to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival together. Mr. Yan Xiusheng, Chinese ambassador to Barbados, delivered a warm and encouraging New Year message and send everybody the blessings of the New Year.
(Group photo for Chinese New Year)
