As the Chinese New Year ushers in the Year of the Snake, people around the world have embraced the traditional Chinese holiday, sharing their appreciation for the rich cultural customs and celebrations.
The Spring Festival, as the New Year is known in China, is the country's most important annual celebration, symbolizing reunion, joy, and new beginnings. This year, the festivities kicked off on Wednesday, January 29.
Across the globe, cities have come alive with colorful activities to welcome the Lunar New Year. In Dubai, the festivities are hard to miss, with shopping malls adorned in Spring Festival decorations and related gifts on sale.
The atmosphere is alive with excitement, as residents and tourists alike engage in the celebrations.
A Spanish tourist visiting the UAE shared his delight at the festivities.
"A lot of functions, people on the streets, a lot of food, fireworks and celebration. Yesterday we had a roasted duck and we have a fried chicken. Very nice. We like it," he said.
Similarly, in Brussels, Belgium, the Chinese embassy organized a Spring Festival fair at the Cinquantenaire Park, featuring Chinese New Year paintings and Peking Opera performances. Screens were also set up to showcase the China Media Group's promotional video for the popular Spring Festival Gala television broadcast.
Local residents expressed their appreciation for the Spring Festival's customs.
"I've heard about it. I think it's to celebrate the Chinese New Year and I think that's beautiful customs celebrated with a red collar, sending and receiving red envelopes and putting the stickers with a food sign," said a Brussels resident.
Another local hailed the importance of the Spring Festival in offering a cherished opportunity for people to relax and reunite with their families in an increasingly fast-paced world.
"It's a very warm and good tradition to get together with the whole of the family. Everyone is living in a fast-paced world, everything goes very fast, everybody is rushing around. But at new year then at least you have a moment to come together and to sit still and think about the past year and the family and have some warm relationships there," he said.
As the world celebrates the Year of the Snake, the first celebration since its recognition on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list, the collective enthusiasm for the Chinese New Year festivities highlights the universal allure and significance of this beloved Chinese tradition.
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Chinese New Year celebrations spread festive cheer globally