ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay: People around the world are increasingly curious about the Chinese Spring Festival as UNESCO added the festival to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The global recognition underscores the festival’s rich cultural significance and timeless traditions. Before taking the views of people over the development, let’s first explore what makes the Chinese Spring Festival so special.
Chinese Spring Festival
Lighting firecrackers, hanging couplets, and enjoying dumplings are just a few of the beloved traditions that define the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year—the most important celebration for Chinese communities around the globe.
These practices and traditions for celebrating the New Year have now received broader recognition, as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added the Spring Festival to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
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The decision was made during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, being held in Paraguay from December 2 to 7.
The Spring Festival, China’s 44th entry on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, was officially recognized as a UN Floating Holiday in 2024 and is now celebrated by approximately 20% of the world’s population in various forms, CGTN reported.
UNESCO emphasised that the Spring Festival, which marks the beginning of the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year, encompasses a range of social practices such as prayers for prosperity and family gatherings. It also includes activities arranged by elders and vibrant public celebrations organised by local communities.
China’s Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism, Rao Quan, who headed the Chinese delegation at the UNESCO session, expressed gratitude for the recognition. He emphasised that the Spring Festival is China’s most significant traditional holiday, representing the Chinese people’s aspirations for a better life, deep connections to family and nation, and the principles of harmony between humanity and nature.
Furthermore, he added that the inclusion of the Spring Festival on UNESCO’s list would help promote the universal values of peace and harmony while underscoring the vital role of intangible cultural heritage in sustainable development.
