OCCAC exists to serve the Chinese community in Oxfordshire by providing independent quality advice and services, enabling them to gain equal access to public resources, improve their quality of life and integrate into society.
OCCAC exists to serve the Chinese community in Oxfordshire by providing independent quality advice and services, enabling them to gain equal access to public resources, improve their quality of life and integrate into society.
Oxfordshire Chinese Community & Advice Centre
Chinese New Year Celebration
The Chinese New Year Celebration is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. In Oxford it is often attended by the whole family, both young and old, to celebrate time honoured Chinese traditions, and to reinforce a sense of cultural heritage and identity. It not only helps to keep the tradition alive, but also helps the Chinese to socialise with each other thus improving their mental health.
In addition, Chinese New Year Celebration can also bring a multi-cultural flavour to Oxford City by giving the local people a chance to join in, increase community cohesion, and to embrace the cultural diversity and vibrancy in Oxford City.
Since 1992, OCCAC has been holding Chinese New Year annually at Oxford Town Hall except 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic. There are about 1,000 guests attending the annual celebration, of whom 1/3 are non-Chinese.
OCCAC's 2024 Chinese New Year Celebration was held from 12 noon to 3:30 pm on Sunday 18th February 2024 (the 9th day of Chinese New Year) at Oxford Town Hall.
Dragon Boat Festival Celebration
The Duanwu Festival (端午節), also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional holiday originating in China, occurring near the Summer Solstice.
The story best known in modern China is that the festival commemorates the death of the poet and patriotic minister Qu Yuan. Sadly, Qu Yuan committed suicide by drowning in the Miluo River. Local people who admired him, raced out in their boats to save him, or at least to retrieve his body. This is said to be the origin of the Dragon Boat Racing. When the body could not be found, the local people dropped balls of sticky rice into the water so that the fish would eat them and not the body of Qu Yuan.
OCCAC volunteers make rice dumplings every year to mark the Dragon Boat Festival, and to raise funds for the Centre.
Our Dragon Boat Festival Celebration will be held on Saturday 8th June 2024.
Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration
OCCAC celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival with local Chinese every year. Activities include: Chinese and Western music and dance performances, lantern making and display, and lantern riddles.
The Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration will be held on Saturday 7th September 2024.
Christmas Celebration
In order to help the local Chinese understand English culture and integrate into society, OCCAC participates and performs in some local cultural activities such as the One World Festival at the Ashmolean Museum.
OCCAC also organises Christmas celebrations for different community groups such as Carers, Elderly, and Mental Health Support Groups.