13thFebruary, 2010 Chinese new year’s eve.
Holland – Beijing, 7 hours’ time difference. However, celebrations for the coming of 2010 tiger year in the two different places started almost the same.
City hall of Hague was decorated with lanterns and coloured streamers and was full of joy. 11 a.m. sharp, “All Chinese in the Netherlands celebrating 2010 tiger year” ceremony was solemnly opened on the ground floor. Honored guests include: Chinese ambassador in the Netherlands Mr. Zhang Jun and his wife, counselor Mr. Zhang Jinxiong, consul Ms. Hong Hong, the new mayor of Hague Mr. Van Alston , administrative officials, representatives from Chinese-Dutch societies and all kinds of walk; it’s also the first time that Mr. Van Alston has attended the celebration of Chinese new year.
Mr. Zhang Jun addressed the celebration in both Chinese and English; Mr.Van Alston congratulated all the Chinese in Holland; both of them put a finishing touch on the lion.
The solemn and warm opening ceremony attracted numerous local residents as well as many who came from other cities.
The celebration was pushed to the climax by dragon dance, lion dance, drum performance, traditional Chinese singing and dancing, and various programs by the children in local Chinese schools. Jiangsu song-and-dance troupe presented professional performances, sending heartfelt love and care to all the overseas Chinese. The audiences expressed their joy in the festival through roaring applauds for the excellent performances.
On the other side of the hall, a cultural group was expressing their best wishes and pleasure in their own elegant way. The organizing committee specially invited Qinghai delegation and some cultural organizations to display paper-cutting, engraving and clothing with their own characteristics, and to introduce different ways and contents of learning Chinese, so that more Dutch could know China better. Confucius Institute Hague was also invited as a member of the cultural group.
The success of this wonderful celebration owes much to the organizing committee; more importantly, it shows the solidarity and spirit of devotion of all overseas Chinese in Holland!
Among the volunteers, we found the general director of the celebration Mr. Zhang Qiaozhong, the general planner Ms. Xiong Guoxiu and her families, members of the Chinese Engineer Association, teachers and parents from Chinese schools, overseas students and other overseas Chinese from all walks of life. To express our appreciation to the committee, Confucius Institute the Hague spared no efforts to assist the organization of the celebration. Chinese director of the Confucius Institite Ms. Zhou Jiajuan volunteered to participate the decoration of the hall; the Chinese teacher Mr. Zhang Zhe who had just put down his luggage also joined in the preparation. Although we were a bit tired, we really feel happy and relieved hearing the guests’ cheerful chatting and laughing.
Wish our motherland a prosperous tiger year!
Wish our motherland stride vigorously to a new time and prosper day by day!
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