HC-One’s Alexander Care Home, in Lewisham, South East London, are preparing to welcome the Chinese New Year with a festive celebratory meal and a joyful gathering.
The Chinese New Year is a celebration of family reunions, renewal, and tradition that spans 15 days. It begins on Wednesday, January 29, marking the start of the Year of the Wood Snake – a period linked to transformation, growth, and introspection.
HC-One’s Alexander Care Home welcomed the Chinese New Year with a festive celebratory meal and a joyful gathering with residents and colleagues. Inspired by Chinese culture and traditions, the home was decorated with hanging red lanterns to commemorate the Chinese New Year.
Alexander resident Thu Binh Lieu and his daughter Yen (April) are Vietnamese. April said that Chinese New Year is a great time to spend with family, and she recalled past events when her mother would get the whole family together, cook festive foods and eat fruit.
Residents learnt all about the traditions and superstitions of Chinese New Year. Residents also enjoyed Chinese food and shared fortune cookies as part of the celebrations.
Thu Binh Lieu, HC-One’s Alexander Care Home resident, said: “I really enjoyed the vibrant colours and the delicious food. People born in the Year of the Wood Snake are said to be well-organised, smart, and possess sophisticated taste.”
Anthony Warner, HC-One’s Alexander Care Home Manager, said: "Celebrating Chinese New Year together brings our community closer, embracing the richness of tradition and the joy of new beginnings. It is a wonderful opportunity to share in the spirit of unity, happiness, and prosperity for the year ahead.
“Participating in cultural activities also provides an opportunity for social interaction and connection, which essential for the overall wellbeing of residents. It has been fantastic to see how much fun everyone had."
Lunar New Year is a vibrant and significant celebration, and for numerous cultures throughout Asia, it is the most important festival of the year. The Lunar New Year – also known as Chinese New Year – is centred around fresh starts, with families coming together to honour the first new moon of the lunar year and welcome spring.