Schoolchildren and shoppers’ delight as Chinese New Year is heralded in

​Hundreds of school children and shoppers cheered and shouted as the Vancouver Quarter welcomed in the Chinese New Year in style.

Pupils from Whitefriars CoE Academy, Howard Infant and Nursery School, Eastgate Academy, Gaywood Primary, Greyfriars and St Michaels CoE Academy enjoyed watching on as the James Uglow Lion Group returned to the shopping centre on Friday 27 January on Baxter’s Plain to herald in the year of the Rooster.

Abbie Panks, Vancouver Quarter centre manager, said: “A huge thank you to the performers from the James Uglow Lion Group for returning to the Vancouver Quarter and helping us to welcome in the Chinese New Year in style.

“Their energetic performance drew a large crowd of around 500 schoolchildren and shoppers on Baxter’s Plain and we were delighted to see so many get into the spirit of the dance and join in too!”

Meanwhile Gavin Raynor, from Howard Infant School, said: “The children had a fantastic time. For most it was a brand new experience and one they will remember. They really enjoyed the interaction with the lion and the bright colours of the costumes.”

Miss Nowrung and Mrs Bramham, Reception Class Teachers at Gaywood Community Primary School, added: “Our Reception children really enjoyed the whole experience! They became more and more excited as the Lion drew closer and thought it was very funny when the Lion took Mrs Bramham’s hat! The children have also really enjoyed making their own Chinese Lion masks and creating their own Chinese Lion Dance’s at school.”

People born in the Year of the Rooster are characterised as honest, energetic, intelligent, flexible and confident. But according to Chinese astrology, the year of your sign is believed to be one of the most unlucky years of your life.

The general image of people in this zodiac sign is that they are hardworking, resourceful, confident and talented. In addition, their active, talkative and engaging ways make them popular with people. They are happiest when they are in company, enjoying the spotlight. Although they were born with enviable skills, they still have several shortcomings, such as being seen as vain and arrogant with a tendency to brag about their achievements.

Famous people born under the rooster sign include Rudyard Kipling, Benjamin Franklin, Prince Philip, Nancy Reagan, Joan Collins, Dolly Parton, ​Michelle Pfeiffer, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Beyonce, Eric Clapton and Yoko Ono..

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar, so the date changes from year to year. The festivities traditionally start the day before the New Year and continue until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the New Year.

Each Chinese New Year is characterised by one of 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese zodiac is divided into 12 blocks (or houses) just like its western counterpart, but with the major difference being that each house has a time-length of one year instead of one month.