In the Chinese calendar, Friday January 31 heralds the start of the Chinese New Year: the year of the Horse. If you were originally born in a horse year, it is believed that your finances may fluctuate, and that this year you should try and keep peace between work colleagues. If you were born in a non-horse year, this new year will bring prosperity and health, as well as being a lucky year in which to travel.
There will be plenty of Chinese New Year celebrations taking place across the city this weekend, with a variety of events taking place at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, among others. But if it is the foodie side of the celebrations that you are interested in, there is plenty going on too…
Oriental supermarket Wai Yee Hong in Eastville host an annual Chinese New Year celebration, with traditional firecrackers and lion dances among the entertainment. This year’s event takes place from 11.15am on Saturday, February 1, with plenty of dumplings, bubble tea and other Chinese treats to keep visitors well fed. You can see more details about the event here.
If you’re a fan of bubble tea (or are yet to try it!), then head over to see CUPP at their home on Philadelphia Street, Quakers Friars this Friday or Saturday. When celebrating Chinese New Year, it is customary to give red envelopes containing money as gifts. CUPP are using this concept to celebrate with their customers, handing out red envelopes whose contents offer customers the chance to win free bubble tea or other prizes.
Zen Harbourside are offering a special Chinese New Year menu on Friday and Saturday, while Toro on Park Street are hosting a special gluten free banquet evening on February 6 to celebrate. If you’re in central Bristol and want to stock up on ingredients to make your own CNY feast, head to Little Chinatown on Nelson Street, where you can also enjoy a traditional lion dance on Saturday at 4pm.
Businesses who are looking to explore links with China may be interested in the banquet evening taking place at Zen Harbourside on February 12, and Cosmo are currently running a competition on Facebook to celebrate CNY, where you can win a meal for 4.