Chinese in UK find ways to celebrate despite lockdown

With harsh restrictions to stop spread of COVID-19, communities quietly mark Spring Festival

For Emma Liu, 32, the novel coronavirus pandemic has not only disrupted her life and work, but also made her normal Spring Festival celebrations almost impossible.

With households in the United Kingdom banned from mixing during the COVID-19 national lockdown, which aims to curb the spread of the virus, Liu can only mark the festival, also known as Lunar New Year, with her immediate family.

"Lunar New Year is something I have celebrated for as long as I can remember, it is something that will definitely be missed as it is about celebrating life with loved ones and bringing in good fortune and health," said Liu, who lives in Teesside, northeast England, with her husband Simon Chan, 44, and their two children.

"I will miss being able to sit around a family table chatting and having good quality family time," Liu said.

Spring Festival celebrations in many places across the world are proving difficult this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic restricts gatherings and lockdown restrictions remain in place.

The festive period started on Friday when the Year of the Ox was ushered in and runs until the Lantern Festival, which falls on Feb 26.

In the lead-up to Spring Festival many families clean their homes and put up decorations to bring good luck for the next 12 months.

Festivities normally start on the eve of the holiday when families gather for big traditional meals and red packets containing lucky money are given to children. The packets can also be given to children on the other days of the festival when people visit each other.

At least 430,000 ethnic Chinese live in the United Kingdom and as that diaspora has grown over the years, so have Lunar New Year festivities.