Bringing Chinese traditions to Shetland

Originally from Hong Kong, Sophie moved to Shetland in 2007 after marrying Calvin (Yiu Man Sek ), who had settled in the islands a few years earlier. Now, with a family of her own and a deep connection to island life, Sophie celebrates her heritage while embracing a Shetland life.

Calvin had been working in London before making the move to Shetland in 2003 to join his cousins in their work. The character the islands soon won him over, and he decided to stay. After their wedding in 2007, Sophie followed Calvin to Shetland, drawn by the friendly community and the refreshing summer weather.

Since then, Shetland has become their home. Their son Brian (Zou Ming Brian Sek) was born in Shetland in 2008, and their daughter Olivia (Zou Yiu Olivia Sek) arrived in 2010. Sophie found herself fully settled, enjoying the strong sense of community that Shetland offers.

Despite being far from Hong Kong, Sophie and her family continue to honour their traditions each Chinese New Year. The celebrations kick off on Chinese New Year’s Eve with a family gathering and a feast, followed by sweet dumplings (Tang Yuan) and the exchange of red pockets for the children. The night often ends with lively games of Mahjong for the adults, while the children enjoy poker and other activities.

The celebrations continue over the next few days with a spread of traditional Chinese sweets, snacks, and nuts. Each meal is a feast featuring a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables, bringing together the best of both Shetland and Chinese cuisine.

A special tradition on the first day of the New Year is having an entirely vegetarian meal to start the day, featuring homemade Chinese Sweet Sticky Rice Cake (Nian Gao) and Chinese Radish Cake (Lo Bak Go). After this, anything goes, and the festivities continue.

While fireworks are a beloved part of the celebration, Sophie admits they can be hard to come by in Shetland – but that doesn’t stop the family from celebrating in their own way.