Woolton Hill and Lambourn pupils celebrate Chinese New Year

Pupils from St Thomas Infant School said xin nian kuai le – or Happy New Year! – as they celebrated this year’s Chinese New Year.

Marking this year’s The Year of the Tiger – the third of the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese calendar – children dressed up as dragons and tigers, enjoying a fun-filled day.

As well as dressing up, the pupils enjoyed a parade and participated in dragon dancing and mathematical games.

There were Chinese artefacts to learn about and the traditions of Chinese New Year were shared by parent Mrs Ngan.

Executive headteacher Paul Davies said: “Not only did the day provide a wonderful opportunity to learn about and celebrate Chinese culture, the children's costumes brought colour and cheer to a grey winter day."

In Lambourn meanwhile, pupils at the primary school welcomed the Chinese Year of Tiger into their school with a celebratory lion and dragon dance.

The dance represents bringing good luck to the school community for the next new year.

The children also enjoyed a Chinese meal cooked by school chefs, including sweet and sour chicken, egg fried rice and steamed vegetables.

Headteacher Rachel Perkins said: "The children and staff would like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year."

Chinese legend has it that the 12 animals of the zodiac were chosen after a race was organised by the Jade Emperor, inviting all the animals in the world to take part.

The 12 species that turned up at the start line – the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig – became the 12 in the zodiac as a reward for taking part, with the race determining the order they placed.