The Goddess of Heaven scatters flowers

The Chinese New Year celebrations will this year culminate in a festa of Chinese opera, a nine-piece segmented dragon and shadow puppetry in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation.

To be held on February 14 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, the event is inspired by modern-day derivations from the traditional Chinese Spring Festival fair, with a romantic Valentine’s Day twist.

The Happy Chinese New Year Festa will be a combination of cultural education and fun activities, a variety show of folk performance arts and live instrumental music by the Zhejiang Wu Opera troupe.

The latter will present musical and theatrical interpretations of China’s well-known, love-themed fable The Butterfly Lovers and The White Snake legend.

Opera face-changing act

But unlike the conventional, single-stage show that calls for a seated audience, all are free to roam and mingle within the hall, where people can have a drink at the bar, try out Chinese dumplings or the popular Chinese games  wéiqí (which means ‘go’) and tī jianzi (shuttlecock kicking).

There will also be seasonal artisanal and handmade crafts, a Chinese opera face-painting presentation by the University of Malta’s Confucius Institute academic staff and information about traditional Chinese medicine from an expert medical team.

Organised by the China Cultural Centre Malta, tickets for the event can be booked on 2559 5750. More information is available by calling 2122 5055 or via maltaccc@gmail.com.

Nine-piece segmented dragon folk art

Right: Havoc in the Dragon’s Palace