“新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè)!” – Celebrating the Year of the Horse at Lancing

One of the things that makes Lancing College so special is the way it genuinely values different cultures. For many of us who have travelled far from home to study here, moments like this mean more than they might seem. On Sunday 1 March in the evening, as we welcomed the Year of the Horse (马年), the College didn’t just host an event — it created a space where students could reconnect with their traditions and share them with friends.

The evening was hosted by Cindy, Lin and Alexia, who guided us through a lively and heartfelt programme of performances. We opened with a song天上太阳红彤彤 (The Sun in the Sky Shines Bright Red), sung by Samuel and Michael with Alan on guitar and Hans on bass. The song has a bright, uplifting rhythm, and it immediately brought energy into the room. You could feel the atmosphere shift — people sat up, smiled, and settled into the celebration. Next was the song黑玻璃 (Black Glass), originally by 邓紫棋 (G.E.M.), performed by Hailey, Maddy and Talent. This was a lovely contrast — modern, emotional and confident. Their stage presence felt natural, and it was great to see contemporary Chinese pop included alongside more traditional elements.

One of the most memorable parts of the evening was Xiaopeng’s hulusi performance of 月光下的凤尾竹(The Peacock Bamboo Under the Moonlight). The hulusi has a soft, almost haunting sound, and when the melody filled the hall it felt calm and reflective. The song itself speaks to peaceful and romantic Chinese atmosphere, and there was something quite moving about hearing it played here, so far from China.

Mika and Muriel then performed 红豆 (Red Bean), originally sung by 王菲 (Faye Wong). It’s a gentle, nostalgic song about longing and love, and their performance created a quieter, more intimate moment in the programme. Sophia S’s dance to 洛春赋 (Luò Chūn Fù), brought elegance back to the stage. Inspired by classical Chinese style, her movements were graceful and controlled, with flowing sleeves and careful gestures that captured the feeling of early spring — renewal, hope, and new beginnings.

The evening ended on a joyful note with a whole-cast performance of 告白气球 (Love Confession Balloon), originally by 周杰伦 (Jay Chou). It’s an upbeat and cheerful song, and by this point the atmosphere was relaxed and celebratory. Seeing everyone come together for the final performance felt like the perfect way to close the night.

Of course, no Chinese New Year celebration would be complete without food. The buffet included sweet and sour pork (糖醋里脊), mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐), braised pork belly (扣肉), and other familiar favourites. Served in self-service style, it felt wonderfully informal — friends gathering around, recommending dishes to each other, and going back for seconds.

Adding a playful and uniquely “Lancing” touch, each attendee received a red envelope worth £5 from the “Lancing College Bank”, featuring the Head Master’s portrait. This light-hearted gesture blended tradition with school spirit, bringing smiles to everyone’s faces and capturing the joy of the occasion.

In Chinese culture, the horse symbolises strength, determination and forward movement. As we begin the Year of the Horse together, this celebration reminded us how meaningful it is to share traditions — and how comforting it can be, even thousands of miles from home, to hear familiar music, taste familiar food, and say together:

新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè)，马到成功 (Mǎ dào chéng gōng)！

Written by Kelly Z, Upper Sixth