Last Sunday marked the Chinese New Year - the year of the Rabbit.

If we have any hope for the future we should be hoping that the Chinese year dominates 2023.

The year of the Rabbit is meant to bring prosperity and good fortune without conflict or argument.

Looking at 2023 as it is, all these things seem unlikely with the cost of living crisis and war on our doorstep in Ukraine. But, hey, the Year of the Rabbit has only just begun. Let's give it a chance and see what happens.

In the meantime we can just enjoy these photographs which mainly show our younger children celebrating Chinese New Year here.

It is lovely to see local schools immersing children in these different cultures and customs.It must surely eventually lead to a wider acceptance of those differences.

The photographs here certainly show children enjoying diversity!

One of the first things that strikes you about the photos is how the children are enjoying their Chinese meals. I wonder how more picky they are at home when their mother tries to serve something different! Having said that, however, young Joshua Damson looks a little unsure as he watches Lorraine Stamper tuck into a spring roll.

On the other hand, I think the photographer of the day was a little unfair with his caption of Calum Henderson. The caption suggests that Callum was getting "his noodles in a " twist" in 2010. It is obvious, in fact, that he is only a couple of steps away from mastering chopsticks!

New Year is the most important event in the Chinese calendar - probably equivalent to our Christmas and it is great that our children are learning to appreciate it, too - even if it does mean hard work for the cooks and staff at the restaurants in which the event is celebrated.

For the paper, and especially for the photographers, Chinese Ne Year has turned into a banquet of cute. The dragons, the chopsticks,the colours all add up to so many truly delicious photos.

Enjoy them and all that is left to say is: "Xīnnián kuàilè" or New Year happiness - and may the Rabbit live up to all that is expected from it in 2023. Because Chinese celebrate the lunar new year, the Rabbit has another couple of extra weeks to bring us prosperity - until February 8, 2024. Hopto it bunny!