On Sunday 29 January 2006, Chinese communities across the world celebrated the start of Chinese New Year and welcomed in the Year of the Dog. One of the most spectacular events of the Chinese New Year festivities is the Lion Dance. Traditionally performed in the first days of the new year, the ceremony is believed to bring good luck. Pupils at the Costessey Infant School have been experiencing the lion dance, thanks to the Norfolk based Hung Sing Martial Arts School.
 | | Costessey pupils learn the Chinese gong |
"We are traditionally a white school and we are very keen to make sure that our children learn about the multicultural world that we live in," said Sally Wilson-Town, headteacher at Costessey Infant School. "We are very keen to make sure that our children are very active in their learning. This is not just a cultural thing, this is actually helping them to take part in the healthy Norfolk schools initiative that we are part of.Ìý "It is a very physical activity, they will build up a lot of strength and they will get very fit doing it," she added. The Hung Sing Martial Arts School have been teaching lion dancing for a couple of years. "Every Kung Fu school generally has a lion dance, a lion dance club or a lion in it.ÌýThe lion represents the spirit of the club," saidÌýHing Sung's manager Niel Wilcott.Ìý "I think they [the children] have taken to it very well.ÌýIt's very exciting for them, lots of noise, lots of movement," he added. Â鶹Éç Family Fun Day
 | | Family fun at The Forum with the Â鶹Éç |
People in Norwich celebrated the Chinese New Year by taking part in the Â鶹Éç Family Fun Day at The Forum. Visitors tried their hand at Chinese writing, making a Chinese dragon and joined in with the many story telling sessions. There were also festivities in King's Lynn organised by the West Norfolk and District Chinese Association and which included a Tai Chi display, the traditional giving of red packets and a Lion Dance by the West Norfolk Associations own group of Chinese dancers. | 
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