This week is bridge week (a self study week) at the RCS and this year I decided to go home and visit my parents for a couple of days. I have quite a lot of work to prepare for college and I thought that mixing a little time with my family alongside my studies would give me a bit of a boost.
Saturday morning started bright and sunny and although cold we thought that we would go for a walk around the city of Chester. There is always something going on there and it is great fun just to wander around.
We were walking along the walls when we heard the sound of fire crackers coming from behind the Cathedral, so we went to investigate.
It was the Chinese new year celebrations outside the Town hall. Just as we arrived the Chinese Lions were leading the crowd into the Town Hall.
Excitedly we followed everyone inside the grand Town Hall where the festivities continued. A number of children from local schools performed an entrancing friendship dance with little colourful scarves, I wanted to jump on the stage and join in 🙂
Then some of the local representatives of the Mandarin Language centre came on stage to show the intricate stitching and brocade work on their dresses, they were really beautiful garments.
Finally we moved outside to watch the Dragon dance which was performed by a Liverpool based martial arts club. My Dad managed to video some of the dance to give you a flavour of the day 🙂
I just couldn’t resist getting in on the act right at the end 🙂
So in this year of the Horse I would like to wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year 🙂
Mandarin Chinese:
新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè, pronounced “sheen nyen kwy luh”) = Happy new year! (literally “The new year comes fast!”)
恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái, pronounced “gong shee fah tsy”) = Wishing you a prosperous new year! (literally “May you have much joy and wealth!”)
Cantonese Chinese:
新年快乐 (san1 nin4 faai3 lok6) = Happy new year! (literally “The new year comes fast!”)
恭喜发财 (gung1 hei2 faat3 choi4) = Wishing you a prosperous new year! (literally “May you have much joy and wealth!”)
It started to rain shortly after the celebrations so we moved into the Cathedral. It is beautiful building with hundreds of years of heritage. You get a real sense of the history of Chester just by looking around the cathedral and soak in the sheer magnificence of the building.
There has been a Cathedral on the site since about 1093 in Norman times and has been added to and altered many times over the years.
One of my favourite parts of the Cathedral are the choir stalls. They date from about 1380 and it took 20 master wood carvers and 20 apprentices 2 years to complete what in my mind is a true work of art.
What amazes me is that part of the carvings on the pews in the choir stalls depict an elephant. But as none of the workmen had ever seen an elephant they carved them with horses hooves 🙂
These old stories are a great piece of our history and I just love to discover them on my wanderings 🙂