As the old year gives way to the new, we gathered beneath warm lights to welcome the Spring Festival together at the Cambridge Museum of Technology.
In February, Cambridge still carried the chill of winter, yet inside the Museum a quiet sense of renewal was already in the air. For one special day, we brought the spirit of the Lunar New Year into the galleries, creating a meeting point between Chinese tradition and British industrial heritage under one roof.
In the Print Workshop, families experienced traditional British relief printing techniques. Horse motifs and fish patterns — symbols of strength and prosperity — were pressed onto red paper in shimmering gold ink. Between crimson sheets and carved blocks, Chinese New Year imagery found a gentle dialogue with British craft traditions.
Meanwhile, the Pye Gallery was filled with energy and anticipation. Children gathered around the chocolate 3D printer, watching intently as liquid chocolate was gradually layered into shape. Patient and wide-eyed, they followed the process as if witnessing a small act of magic unfold before them.
At the hands-on craft tables, visitors of all ages took part with enthusiasm and creativity. Some practised calligraphy, others mastered the delicate art of paper-cutting, while many explored their own interpretations of festive design. International children eagerly attempted to write the character “福” (good fortune), carefully studying each brushstroke. With the warm guidance of Chinese student volunteers, they completed their own Lunar New Year creations.
Adults joined in with equal dedication. One mother carefully copied the words “I love you” onto a bookmark for her daughter — a quiet gesture of affection expressed through ink and paper. Members of the overseas Chinese community wrote elegant Spring Festival couplets, allowing memories of home to flow gently through their brushwork. A young visitor, dressed in traditional Chinese attire, added another vivid note of cultural expression within the Museum’s historic walls.
Though languages differed, culture brought people closer together. Shared participation dissolved boundaries and fostered connection. Under one roof, diverse faces and voices welcomed the New Year side by side — a living reflection of the spirit that spring belongs to all.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us. This gathering has become a warm footnote to the season’s turning.
Blog by museum volunteers Lori Zhao and Tracy Chenxi Dong