The Lord Mayor of Birmingham Councillor Mohammed Azim has wished Birmingham a happy Chinese New Year.  "It gives me great pleasure to wish a very Happy New Year to the Chinese community here in Birmingham and to Chinese people around the world" he said.

  "The people of Birmingham have a longstanding friendship with China encouraged by our Sister City relationships with Changchun, Guangzhou and Nanjing" explained Councillor Mohammed Azim (pictured with Dr Beverly Lindsay OBE, OD, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of West Midlands with Ken Tong and Irene Chu of Birmingham Chinese society). 

" I have already hosted several delegations visiting from China and feel that it is really important to be able to share our experiences and build greater cultural understanding.  With more than 5000 Chinese students in our universities and many others living and working in Birmingham, the Chinese Community has again in 2019 added significantly to the prosperity and diversity of our great City.  We hope that continues in 2020 and beyond.  I wish a happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Rat to all the Chinese people living in and visiting Birmingham.  Enjoy the celebrations!"    

The Birmingham Chinese Society celebrated the Year of the Rat on 4th February at the China Court Restaurant in Birmingham`s Chinatown with cultural performances including the Ling Long Dance Group and the Unicorn and Lion Dance.    

Also known as the Lunar New year, Chinese New Year is celebrated all over the world through a variety of traditional; performances, activities and authentic Chinese dishes.  Internationally renowned, the festival marks the start of a new lunar cycle and a chance to start afresh by bringing prosperity and health to a brand new year.    

In 2020 the Chinese New Year celebrations began on 25th January with the period of celebrations ending on 4th February.  A family and friends reunion dinner is one of the most important meals during the festive period where an array of dishes are enjoyed around a table.  The Birmingham Chinese Society did this at the China Court Restaurant in Chinatown.  Fish was high on the menu (with such delights as steamed sea bass and braised lobster) because the word sounds similar to "surplus" and symbolises a plentiful and prosperous year ahead.  In Mandarin and Cantonese languages, the celebratory phrases are "Gung Hei Fat Choi" and "Gong Xi Fa Cai" to wish good fortune.  

  The Birmingham Chinese Society was founded in 1988 by a group of Chinese volunteers and is a registered charity.  The Society provides community services to the local Chinese community who come from different countries including Vietnam, Malaysia and Hong Kong. 

The Society has been helping the elderly for over 30 years and is run by volunteers to enrich the daily lives of the elderly, bring happiness to people who may otherwise feel isolated, provide social gatherings and friendship.  The Club is extraordinarily popular  with the oldest member being over 90 years old.  

  Apart from service to the elderly the Society also offers a support and interpreting service to single parents and people with a language barrier.  In the future the Birmingham Chinese Society will continue the philosophy of serving the local Chinese community and is committed to working with different partners and providing high quality services to the general public.  

Further information:   www.birminghamchinesesociety.org.uk infobcs66@yahoo.co.uk