Tuesday 4th February 2025, 8:55am (day 4,912)
One of those seasonal themes, coming a little late this year — Chinese New Year celebrations have yet to make it to St Helena. Manchester always sprouts a healthy crop, though.
Chinatown
Being 42
Life, one day at a time
Tag Archives: Chinese New Year
This year’s lanterns
Wednesday 24th January 2024, 2.55pm (day 4,535)
A subject that comes round each year, I could have first pictured these at least a fortnight ago; I think that when the ladders were put up to get Manchester’s Christmas decorations down, they just installed the lanterns immediately, to save getting the ladders out again. Thus, at least a month before the Chinese New Year that they are there to celebrate. Never mind — today was my last chance to get them on for CNY 2024; I won’t now be in Manchester for three weeks.
Chinatown
Wednesday 9th February 2022, 2.50pm (day 3,821)
I haven’t had three days in a row of Manchester pictures since February 2020 — what happened after that, I wonder. But today’s the latest burst of two-in-a-row, and with good light to boot. Manchester’s Chinatown is, in no way comparable to, say, San Francisco’s in scale (not to mention anywhere in China) but in European terms it’s sizeable enough. At this point it is possible to imagine one is far away.
xīn nián kuài lè
Wednesday 2nd February 2022, 9.45am (day 3,814)
It’s 2/2/22, and also Lunar New Year (or Chinese New Year, Tet, whatever other term you want to use). It seemed appropriate to depict this today even if I suspect I am a day late. Manchester has a large Chinese population (students or otherwise) and the city centre is decorated accordingly. I believe I should say at this point: xīn nián kuài lè .
Chinatown morning
Thursday 6th February 2020, 9.10am (day 3,087)
2020 has contained many things to complain about thus far, at least in the wider world, but the weather has not been amongst them. Perhaps it does foretell the melting of the world’s ecosystems somehow but believe me, it could be a lot worse. And time for the annual appearance of the Chinese lanterns on the blog, too.
Chinese lanterns
Wednesday 6th February 2019, 9.15am (day 2,722)
Here’s this year’s Spring Festival (Lunar or ‘Chinese’ New Year) shot…. there are always opportunities for pictures like this in Manchester. These lanterns catch a little of the wan sunshine that illuminated the morning. And, it being Manchester, you get a crane photo-bombing, as well.
Terracotta Army (illuminated)
Thursday 26th January 2017, 5.50pm (day 1,981)
Whereas last Chinese New Year, Exchange Square in Manchester displayed an inflatable dragon, this year we are graced with this illuminated plastic ‘terracotta army’, which may or may not be the tackiest thing I have seen in a while. Still, if the purpose of the display was to get mentions on social media, it has succeeded, going on the number of people taking photos of it today. Including me of course. Or perhaps I was photographing the crowd. But it doesn’t matter does it? The end result is the same. It is what we do now.
Dragon (presumably Chinese)
Thursday 4th February 2016, 3.05pm (day 1,624)
This creature suddenly appeared in Exchange Square today. But I think we’re safe — it appears to be tied down. The guy in front seems keener to take a picture of something else, anyway, suggesting he isn’t feeling threatened.
Chinese lanterns, Albert Square
Monday 25th January 2016, 9.25am (day 1,614)
Manchester has a pretty big Chinatown (hence the Chinese Arch, which has made it onto the blog three times by now). The lanterns hung in Albert Square around this time of year (see also here) are also good for a shot each year.
Being 42 