Expats in Zhuhai feel warm Spring Festival atmosphere

To ring in the Spring Festival of 2023, a dumplings-making event under the theme of "A Bite of China" was held in Zhuhai on the day of the Little New Year, January 14, 2023, to let foreign friends know more about the Spring Festival culture, and feel the warm and festive atmosphere. Nearly 30 Chinese and foreign friends and families from five countries including the USA, Germany, Russia, Canada and Kazakhstan joined the event.

The series of activities themed "A Bite of China" is hosted by Huafa Community Management and Service Center for Expats.The Center was decorated for the New Year in advance. Lanterns were hung, and window decorations, couplets and the blessing character "Fu" were pasted, presenting a strong New Year atmosphere.

On the day of the event, Chinese and foreign friends gathered at the Center. At the beginning, the host briefly introduced the significance of Xiaonian, its customs, as well as the origin of dumplings and its making steps. Then a teacher began to show everyone how to make dumplings. Three kinds of fillings were prepared in advance. With the fillings they preferred, the participants began to imitate the teacher's every move. They were busy making the dough, rolling the wrappers, wrapping the fillings and folding the wrappers under the patient explanation of the teacher, creating a lively and festive scene.

Varya from Russia carefully followed the teacher's actions. She took out the dough, put it on the kneading mat, cut it into small pieces of dough, then pressed each piece flat and rolled it with a rolling pin in each direction into a piece of dumpling wrapper with thin edges and slightly thick center. Then she put a piece of dumpling wrapper in the palm of one hand, placed a spoonful of filling in the center, and folded a few times to pinch both sides tightly. A nice dumpling was wrapped up! Soon, dumplings in different shapes were put on the table. After a few minutes, plates of steaming hot dumplings were served with delicious smell, which warmed every one on the scene.

In addition to dumplings making, calligraphy lovers were invited to write Spring Festival couplets on the spot to present cultural gifts with Spring Festival features for Chinese and foreign residents, which caught the attention of the passers-by, all eager to have a try. Under the guidance of the calligraphy teachers, some participants experienced writing Spring Festival couplets and the character "Fu", and received unique and warm New Year gifts that were created by themselves. Everyone was beaming with satisfaction, and many said they felt the strong festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year here.

"Chinese culture has always fascinated me. Our family enjoyed the event today. Thank you for showing us how 'easy' to make dumplings! This is my first attempt doing this. Although I'm still getting used to the techniques, it's so satisfying to see so many nice dumplings I have made! We've been living in Zhuhai for almost two years. Zhuhai is like my second home. We love to go out, try new food, meet and get to know so many international people and expats from all over the world, and learn more about the Chinese life and culture. With the optimized epidemic prevention policy, now I can invite my parents to show them our life here and how we live here, go out for food, and everything else!", said Jennifer from Germany.

Sana and her family expressed that: "Thank you so much for holding this dumpling-making event on this special day of Xiaonian. It was also lovely to learn more about the history of dumplings and have this hands-on activity. We make dumplings and eat dumplings here, which makes us feel the deep warmth and strong festival atmosphere! Wishing you all a happy Little New Year, and also happy Spring Festival in advance! May happiness and joy be with you in the coming new year!"

On the day, the Center also prepared cute rabbit hats for the children, wishing them health, happiness and vitality in the Year of Rabbit!

"We hope that by holding such activities, foreign friends can have a deeper and closer experience of traditional Chinese culture, which will help them better integrate into the community," said a staff member of the Center.