Ways to celebrate CNY of the Ox
Sadly, this year we will not be gathering together as we usually do to celebrate Chinese New Year. Hopefully in 2022 we will be able to have a traditional Chinese Banquet. In this newsletter are some ideas for how you can celebrate even in lockdown.
It is the start of Year of the Ox and that sign is associated with hard work. We know we have a lot of work ahead of us but it is worth reflecting on how far we have come and the good times of the past. This year marks 20 years of Bristol's links with China - see if you can spot yourself at one of our events in our video:
How about celebrating Chinese New Year with Chinese food! We have linked up with Wongs Restaurant to provide 20% off your food bill for all takeaways collected personally (not orders through third parties such as Deliveroo) from the restaurant. Please quote China Bureau 20th Anniversary when ordering. Phone 0117 9258883 to make your order. The offer applies between 10-14 February 2021.
Join in the online celebrations that The Bristol Museum are organising including our video with the Botanic Gardens there are full details at bristolmuseums.org.uk
Our Cultural Corner article reminds us all about the significance of Chinese New Year and can be read again here:
The Year of the Ox is Coming!
So, the Year of the Ox is on its way and, as in previous years, major Western brands are currently trying to integrate Zodiac animals and other New Year symbols into their communications and products aimed at Chinese consumers. We thought we’d share a few of our festival-inspired favourites.
Apple have managed to creatively combine their iconic logo with a very appealing bovine face for their special edition festival ear pods. On a similar theme, Burberry launched a new fashion range in December also featuring Ox heads – this time on their fabric. Interest in the launch was fuelled by the use of Chinese supermodel Liu Wen. However, according to the Jing Daily at least, some Chinese netizens have been critical of the stylising of the Ox saying that it could have been a more likeable image but maybe Burberry still gets some credit for trying!
Ikea, are celebrating Spring Festival in their China stores, with a range of products from red lanterns to window decorations. And, speaking of window decorations, check out this article by Dao Insights which features an Airbnb advert from 2020. It contains some really interesting connections with both the modern challenges of urban China’s ‘996’ lifestyle and traditional habits at Chinese New Year. In its animated advert, Airbnb picks up how nowadays Spring Festival is often celebrated ‘in reverse’ as young Chinese city workers cannot take the time off to travel back to their hometowns, as is customary. (They are often working 9am-6pm, 6 days a week, hence the ‘996’ abbreviation for those that don’t know this pharse!). Instead, the parents come to stay with their children in the big cities. There are some nice small details in the advert too – watch the dad and daughter with the window decoration. Clever and cute!
And last by not least, we loved a recent LinkedIn post by exuberant China Watcher and Social Media expert, Ashley Galina Dudarenok, that highlighted the recent selling of bright red, lychee-flavoured Oreos biscuits to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.
So, whether you enjoy some special festival food or hang up some decorations for your Zoom backdrop we hope you really get to enjoy the arrival of the Year of the Ox on 12th February!
Xīn Nián Kuài Lè!
新年快乐!
Jo Bloxham, Kynfolk and Stella Wang, University of Bristol