CIG Chinese New Year Celebration

On 19th January 2020, Chinese Institute Geneva Foundation (CIG) organized a Spring Festival celebration in Geneva. There were more than 330 guests, including Chinese people and locals from Switzerland and France, as well as friends from all over the world who are interested in Chinese culture.

The Spring Festival is the biggest traditional festival of our Chinese nation. CIG students from three campuses (Geneva, Nyon and Lausanne) prepared wonderful performances, including singing and dancing, recitation of ancient poems, musical instruments, fashion shows etc. Although some of our international friends did not understand Chinese, they were deeply attracted by the various programs. The show ended with CIG teachers’ chorus "My people, My Country", and they sent out their wishes to the audience for a happy new year in Chinese, English and French.

In addition to the performances, we also organized colorful cultural booths, such as writing spring couplets, Chinese paper-cutting, on-site dumplings making, and lion dance, so as to allow our international guests to largely experience our Chinese traditional festival.

We also had a raffle. Prizes included a round trip flight ticket provided by Air China from Geneva to Beijing, 6 bottles of Moutai sponsored by the Tian-Tan Horizon S.A., a hundred of Chinese, French and English books as well as children's favorite stationery and dolls prepared by CIG. In the end, the family of a CIG student from Geneva received the first prize-Air China flight ticket. Everyone was immersed in the festive atmosphere and happy hours.

The activity inspired the interest of international guests for Chinese culture and language. On the spot there were guests consulting Chinese classes, and parents signing up their children to start Chinese language learning without delay.

Feedback for this event was very positive. Both Chinese and foreign guests praised CIG for such a great, well-organized celebration for the Chinese New Year.