Fish and Dragon Festival gives Barbados a ‘taste of China’

Last year, approximately 5,000 Barbadians and visitors alike converged at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium for the staging of the “Fish and Dragon Festival”.

It was a fun filled opportunity to experience China’s culture, language and cuisine.

This year, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Barbados promises an even more enjoyable event, as the 5th “Fish and Dragon Festival”, gets underway on Wednesday January 23rd.

As part of its Chinese Lunar New Year’s celebrations, the Embassy has successfully hosted the Festival in collaboration with Central Bank of Barbados, Chinese Association in Barbados, Confucius Institute at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and AJA Productions Company.

“For the last four years, the size of the festival and the number of the participants are becoming bigger and bigger,” said Zou Xi, Political Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy during the press conference to announce the 2019 Festival.

“Bajan people gain more understanding and adore Chinese culture, and the distance between China and Barbados has been significantly shortened through all these events…The success of the festival is a vivid reflection that the bilateral relations between China and Barbados are becoming closer. Under the joint efforts of both Chinese and Barbadian sides, this relation featured by friendly cooperation made new developments and gratifying breakthroughs in the past year.”

He revealed that most anticipated activities will be that of the Chinese Art Troupe which will present wonderful acrobatic, martial arts and traditional Chinese music performances together with Barbadian artists.

Chief of Corporate Communications at Central Bank of Barbados, Novaline Brewster said the Bank has co-hosted the festival from its inception and is delighted that their involvement has allowed Barbados to join 399 other international cities to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

“It’s a partnership that the Bank and the Embassy have jointly nurtured, and we are pleased with the returns so far,” she expressed, also noting that the attendance and participation in the Festival have grown, interest in Chinese culture ignited, enrolment in Mandarin classes solidified, and the 40-year plus diplomatic relationship between Barbados and China strengthened.

“The Fish and Dragon Festival is a fusion of cultures, peoples, ideas, hopes, dreams and relationships as its name symbolizes. Fish and Dragon 2019 offers the usual fare of the best of China and Barbados in terms of food, entertainment and cultural experiences.... It is a true sampling of Bim and China”.

Being the ‘Year of the Pig’, a variety of pork dishes will be on the menu.

According to Treasurer of the Chinese Barbados Association, Philomena Lee, “Pork is very popular both in Barbados and China. The Association really intends to showcase a number of ways the Chinese prepare pork”.

Reflecting on the major change of the festival, being on Wednesday instead of a Saturday, she is encouraging the public to still attend in their numbers to the Gymnasium from 4.30 p.m.

“We know it is working day, but we want to encourage persons to still come out. There are lots of activities and entertainment planned. The Fish and Dragon Festival is an excellent showcase of the cultures of both countries.” (TL)