THE GODIVA sisters and members of the Coventry community of all ages came together to celebrate Chinese New Year.
Chinese Godiva sister Margaret Tse made all the lanterns and generous Mr Wong provided the Chinese feast which was free to more than 100 people who attended the event in War Memorial Park on Tuesday.
The Lord Mayor of Coventry, Coun John McNicholas, also attended the celebrations.
The city’s Lady Godiva Pru Porretta, who organised the day with Margaret, said: “Coventry is better by sharing our different traditions we can all be different how special to be surrounded by friendship and happiness
“The year of the tiger came in gently the sun shone – it was profound.
“We not only gathered in the fresh air but had an insight to a better year ahead, and with the tiger’s strength showed we can make a difference and go forward.”
She thanked everyone who attended and the Godiva Coventry Sisters for making the day so special.
The Chinese community who joined sang Chinese New Year songs in Cantonese and everyone held a very long Chinese Scroll with 100 tigers on it.
One of the Godiva sisters Mel Starkey choreographed a dance to ‘Eye of the Tiger’ for everyone to join in and a Special tiger poem was written by Godiva sister Michelle Dearden which was read out after the Lord Mayor’s speech.
Attendees also enjoyed special tiger cakes made by Pat Mulqueen-Wood.
Pru added: “The Chinese New Year was supported by many of our different Godiva Sisters from many different cultures and traditions, proving the Godiva Sisters make the wonderful family of Coventry a true multicultural family for us all to be proud of.”
Pru, Margaret and Ling Wan also visited Lyng Hall School in Blackberry Lane to continue the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Pru said: “We were very impressed with the students’ attitude to learning mandarin with their friendly kind supportive teachers – Chinese crafts were created, language spoken and Chinese prawn crackers and fortune cookies given out after a quiz on Chinese culture.”
