On January 23, Professor Fu Mingduan, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute (CI-UoM) at the University of Mauritius led the staff of CI-UoM to Lycee Labourdonnais School to jointly host the "Celebrating Chinese New Year and Chinese Language Day" event. The event was attended by Mr. De Chazal, the President of the school, the Principal Mrs. Vetroff, and the Mandarin teacher Mrs. Venkatasami, as well as nearly 800 students and teachers from Lycee Labourdonnais.
The President Mr. De Chazal and the Principal Vetroff delivered joint opening remarks, highlighting that the annual Chinese Language Day has become a tradition at Lycee Labourdonnais. Each year, the school organizes unique activities to showcase students’ achievements in learning Mandarin. Lycee Labourdonnais has a long-standing foundation and has cultivated many outstanding students in learning Mandarin. The school regularly conducts cultural exchange programs, and this collaboration with the Confucius Institute to celebrate Chinese New Year and Chinese Language Day marked another successful partnership. Mr. De Chazal and Mrs. Vetroff expressed their sincere gratitude to the Confucius Institute for its strong support and hoped for more collaboration opportunities in the future.
The Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Mauritius, Professor Fu Mingduan, elaborated on the significance of the Spring Festival in Chinese culture. She specifically noted that in December 2024, the Spring Festival was officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition signifies the global acknowledgment of the cultural value and influence of the Spring Festival and suggests that more people worldwide will join in celebrating this traditional festival. Professor Fu expressed her hope that this cultural event would enable teachers and students to gain a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture and enjoy the joy of intercultural exchange.
After the opening speeches, Ms. Li Tingting from the Confucius Institute delivered a cultural lecture themed around the Spring Festival. The lecture introduced the origins of the festival, traditional customs, and common New Year blessings. During the presentation, she also conducted an engaging trivia session to actively interact with the students.
Following the lecture, the cultural performances began. Teachers from the Confucius Institute showcased exciting acts, including Tai Chi, nunchaku demonstrations, and popular dances. Meanwhile, students from Lycee Labourdonnais presented an array of performances such as fan dances, singing with dance, choral performances, piano solos, and calligraphy demonstrations.
After the performances, the cultural experience activities officially commenced. Six interactive stations were set up, featuring Chinese painting, calligraphy, tea art, paper cutting, Hanfu dressing, and lacquer fan-making. Guided by the teachers from the Confucius Institute, participants eagerly engaged in activities, rotating among the stations to try their hand at calligraphy, traditional painting, paper cutting, tea art, and more. Students excitedly donned Hanfu and captured joyful moments with their peers. The venue was filled with a festive and enthusiastic atmosphere, with laughter and cheerful voices resonating throughout. The hands-on activities enabled teachers and students alike to immerse themselves in the charm of Chinese traditions while gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese language, culture, and customs.
The event began at 8:00 AM and concluded after 3:00 PM, lasting over seven hours. The cultural activities were highly praised by the students and teachers of Lycee Labourdonnais. Participants remarked that the event deepened their understanding and appreciation of traditional Chinese culture, and they looked forward to more opportunities for cultural experiences in the future, further strengthening the cultural exchange and communication between Mauritius and China.
