Chinese New Year Celebrations at MSB

Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, always falls between late January and mid-February. This year, Chinese New Year fell on Wednesday 29^th January, with celebrations culminating with the Lantern Festival on Wednesday 12^th February.

In China, Japan and other countries, the standard calendar is either a Lunar or a lunisolar calendar. A lunar calendar tracks the date based on the phases of the moon, and a lunisolar calendar tracks the date using both the sun and the moon.

Zodiac animals

2025 is the Year of the Snake. The Snake is the symbol of wisdom and transformation, so legend has it that this is a good year to get into a new hobby or learn a new skill!

The Chinese zodiac animals come from a mythological story from the Han Dynasty, where the Jade Emperor held a contest to decide which animal should be included in the calendar. The winner of the race was the rat, and that’s why it was the first of the twelve animals in each twelve-year cycle. Your Zodiac animal is based on the year you were born – so for any babies born in 2025, their Zodiac sign would be the Snake, any in 2026 will be the year of the Horse, and so on.

MSB’s celebrations

The Chinese New Year celebrations at MSB included a blend of cultural experiences and team-building activities. Our Team celebrated by:

• A Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony hosted by Manchester Confucius Institute: Which was an opportunity for team MSB to immerse and understand the importance of tea culture by observing how to make, serve and enjoy a variety of Chinese teas.
• Chinese Paper Folding hosted by Manchester Confucius Institute: The team got hands-on with crafting snake-shaped bookmarks, a nod to the Year of the Snake, using traditional origami techniques.
• Authentic Food and a Quiz: Delicious Chinese cuisine was shared across our offices, followed by a fun-filled quiz that tested everyone’s knowledge of Chinese New Year traditions.
• Gifting Hóngbāo: As part of the celebration, we exchanged red envelopes filled with money, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity for the coming year.

Dragon Dancing

Team MSB also participated in the lively and colourful dragon dancing at Liverpool’s Chinese New Year festivities, alongside Liverpool City Council, Pine Court Housing Association, and Liverpool Chinese Business Association led by the fantastic Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu Club.

Team MSB not only celebrated the start of the Lunar New Year, but also our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness. The events were a perfect opportunity for everyone to come together, share in the festivities, and deepen our understanding of one another’s cultures.

At MSB, we take pride in supporting a workplace where diversity is celebrated, and every team members unique perspective is valued.

Here’s to learning new skills and good fortune in 2025!