Birkbeck student Jingyi He, attended a New Year event organized by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association UK and, in this blog, speaks to the symbolic meaning of the ‘Year of the Horse’ and the importance of cultural events.

In traditional Chinese culture, 2026 is the “Year of the Horse.” In Chinese culture, the horse is not merely an animal but also represents a set of symbolic meanings: speed, journey, action, pioneering spirit, endurance, and the relationship with the road. Idioms such as “urging the horse on with the whip” and “spurring the horse forward” metaphorically express the pursuit of enterprising spirit and seizing opportunities, as well as symbolizing the aspiration for a smooth and progressive life.

As a student of Birkbeck, I am fortunate to have attended the 2026 Spring Festival Gala organized by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association UK. Before the gala officially began, I was captivated by the various small activities at the entrance. As soon as I stepped into the corridor of the auditorium, a student smiled and handed me a large Fu (blessing) sticker, wishing me a “Happy Spring Festival.” In Chinese tradition, placing the Fu character upside down on the doorstep symbolizes “blessings have arrived”, representing the simplest yet most sincere New Year’s wish. Holding the red paper, I felt a warmth in my heart. Continuing down the corridor, I saw a table surrounded by people participating in a raffle. Upon closer inspection, the prize was a specially designed commemorative fridge magnet for the All-UK Chinese Students and Scholars Union Spring Festival Gala, featuring a horse-year theme. The magnet combined the image of a ‘child riding a wooden horse in a New Year painting’ with iconic London landmarks such as Big Ben, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge. As a cultural extension beyond the gala stage, it allowed Spring Festival culture to be seen, preserved, and remembered overseas. Unfortunately, my luck wasn’t in, and I missed out on it. However, that disappointment was quickly overshadowed by another emotion: from the Fu stickers to the fridge magnet design, these thoughtful touches, big and small, made me truly feel the care and concern of the All-UK Chinese Students and Scholars Union and Birkbeck for international students. Before even taking my seat, the festive atmosphere was already palpable.

The gala officially started at eight o’clock. I sat together with my classmates from Birkbeck and my teacher, Sammie to watch the entire event. The event was designed into three chapters, corresponding to the temporal progression of ‘Past Spring Festival, Present Spring Festival, Future Spring Festival’ from the historical memories of earlier generations of international students, to the current lives of contemporary youth in London, and then to a shared vision for the future. Zheng Zeguang, the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, took the stage to deliver a speech, marking the opening of the gala. The program lineup balanced tradition with modernity, showcasing the profound heritage of Chinese culture while also presenting the innovative expressions of the youth. There were traditional Chinese performances such as the opera ‘Mu Guiying Takes Command’, the folk song ‘Jasmine Flower’, and the physical theater ‘The Legend of the White Snake’, as well as modern acts like K-pop, rock music, and a cappella. I could really feel how much effort the staff put into this gala, Everywhere in the main venue, there were ‘Year of the Horse’ elements — horse projections on the walls, cute horse dolls on the tables, and more. All the on-screen captions were bilingual, thoughtfully designed for an international audience.

The program that left the deepest impression on me was when the Oxford University a cappella choir sang ‘Finding Myself’. Several foreign students stood in front of the microphones, and their clear enunciation surprised me. The dozen or so members stood in an arc, and the moment the British male lead singer opened his mouth, he demonstrated unexpectedly proficient Chinese—each word’s ending was handled cleanly and crisply, with even particles like “了” (le) and “着” (zhe) enunciated distinctly. Another Chinese member was particularly immersed in the bass part, gently tapping his feet to the rhythm, his light brown shoes tapping out a lively beat on the wooden floor. When singing the line “After making so many changes”, he suddenly raised his right hand to touch his chest, as if truly telling his own story through the song. Later, the host introduced that they had prepared for this program for nearly two months, and I was once again moved by the thoughtfulness of this gala.

For the grand finale, soprano singer Wan Dan performed a solo of ‘Cheers to the Motherland’, concluding the event with a powerful and infectious voice that pushed the atmosphere to its climax. The song evoked a sense of national pride, and many in the audience sang along, filling the entire auditorium with their voices.

After the gala ended, many people were reluctant to leave, staying behind to take photos together. Although many international students had not known each other before, under the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival Gala, everyone was chatting freely. I also made many new friends through this event, who, like me, had come to the UK from China last September and had already spent nearly half a year studying abroad here.

This overseas Spring Festival Gala deeply touched me. I had never imagined experiencing a Spring Festival feast that transcended time zones and cultures in a solemn and exquisite British-style auditorium, feeling the most familiar festive atmosphere in the cold winter of a foreign land. The familiar melodies and traditional art forms on stage made me feel as if I had returned home for the New Year, regaining the sense of ritual and belonging that the Spring Festival should have, and feeling that the New Year was right beside me and ‘home’ had never been far away.

Thanks to Siyuan Zhou, the Chair of the Birkbeck Chinese Society, for bringing this event to the Birkbeck Chinese community, and others celebrating, and giving us the opportunity to participate. For me, tonight’s event was absolutely wonderful and truly memorable. Finally, I wish everyone good luck and all the best in the new year!