The start of the Chinese New Year – the year of the rabbit – was
celebrated at Dover on Thursday night, February 3.

People gathered on the seafront to hear music, listen to poems,
watch a fire performance artist and enjoy some Chinese food at an
event organised by Dover Arts Development.

But the wind was too strong for the planned climax to the
evening, the release of Chinese lanterns. The display had to be
abandoned when it proved too difficult to light one of the lanterns
and let it off safely.

Fire poi master Ivan Cleak kept the crowd entertained with his
performance of spinning flaming objects around him.

Crowds entertained at
Chinese New Year in Dover

China Crisis guitarist Colin Hinds provided some music, a poet
called Untidy Barry read some Mersey Poets-influenced verse and
actor Roy Boyd read Matthew Arnold’s poem Dover Beach.

Chinese years start in conjunction with the moon, rather than by
date, and it is hoped the Year of the Rabbit will give some peace
and respite after the year of the tiger.

More pictures in next week's Dover Mercury.

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