“Tsar Simeon the Great” Secondary School, under the Confucius Institute in Sofia, Hosted Year of the Horse Chinese New Year Exhibition

From February 24 to 25, “Tsar Simeon the Great” Secondary School in Vidin, under the Confucius Institute in Sofia, held a Chinese New Year cultural exhibition for the Year of the Horse, with more than 300 students, teachers, and parents participating.

The school’s hall was carefully decorated as a Chinese New Year cultural exhibition area, full of the festive atmosphere of the holiday. The exhibition featured a wide variety of displays, including paper cuttings, Chinese knots, lanterns, handicrafts themed around the Spring Festival and the Year of the Horse, traditional Chinese clothing crafts, as well as a rich selection of Chinese language textbooks, workbooks, dictionaries, and interactive learning tools. The atmosphere on site was lively, filled with joy and celebration.

During the event, under the guidance and explanation of the Confucius Institute teachers, students learned a wealth of knowledge about China, covering geography, culture, art, cuisine, the legend of the “Nian” monster, Spring Festival customs, the symbolic meaning of the color red, and more. The students showed great interest in the giant panda, its living habits, symbolic significance, and current conservation status. At the end of the activity, all the students performed the Chinese song “Xin Nian Hao” (Happy New Year), bringing the event to a festive climax.

This Chinese New Year cultural event not only broadened the students’ understanding of Chinese culture but also further inspired their enthusiasm for learning Chinese. It was an engaging and highly inspiring cultural practice activity.

Confucius Institute in Sofia

Text and photos: Men Xiaoqiu

Editors: Chen Ying, Aksiniya Koleva, Ding Chen

English translation: Dima Pironkova