Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit at Christchurch City Libraries

Mark one of the world’s most celebrated festivals by heading down to your local library for a variety of colourful and diverse events.

From 22 January to 5 February 2023, Christchurch City Libraries is hosting more than 30 different events to mark the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Rabbit.

“The celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year is a significant part of the Chinese culture, history, arts and languages. We love celebrating our diverse communities and it’s always great to have this event kick start our events calendar for 2023,” Christchurch City Council Head of Libraries Carolyn Robertson says.

“There is something for everyone from big celebration days, to bedtime stories, storytelling and even afterschool activities for when the holidays are over.”

One of the key events is the Lunar New Year Celebration of Culture event, held at Tūranga on Saturday 28 January from 1.30-4pm.

It will feature a display of colours, costumes, music and performances to mark the Year of the Rabbit.

A Lunar New Year Family Celebration will also bring peace and joy to families at Upper Riccarton Library on February 27 January from 1-3pm. There will be a variety of traditional Chinese games, crafts and themed activities.

There will also be a Lion Dance Workshop at Upper Riccarton Library on Friday 27 January from 10am-noon.

It will be delivered jointly by staff and the well-known Qiao Yi Lion Dance Team where people can learn how to make a lion head with recycled materials, basic dance movements and participate in a fun lion dance performance.

Check out the full list of events, as well as more information about the Lunar New Year here.