Chinese New Year

12 February 2024

Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean communities, among others. Tied to the lunar calendar, the holiday began as a time for feasting and to honour household and heavenly deities, as well as ancestors.  

Stowe held a dinner to celebrate this event on Saturday 10 February, and welcomed in the Year of the Dragon. The dragon symbolises energy, wisdom and protection. These are qualities which we all need to rise to the challenges of the modern world. 2024 is also the Year of Wood, which is associated with strength, warmth, co-operation and generosity. These traits were well displayed by Stoics during the dinner, which was a wonderful meal of Cantonese style chicken, sauteed mooli and vegetables, crispy tofu in black bean sauce, rice noodles, chop suey noodles, prawn crackers and fortune cookies. This was followed by a desert of lemon grass, mango and coconut cheesecake pots, as well as chocolate brownies.  

The International Prefects, Arin Chatsuwan (Upper Sixth, Grenville), Danny Flames (Upper Sixth, Cobham) Molly Muhoho (Upper Sixth, Nugent) and Natalie Nylaende (Upper Sixth, Queen’s) did an excellent job of welcoming people to the event and ensuring all had an enjoyable evening.  The dinner was a fantastic way to bring in the new year and mark the beginning of the spring months.