China has expressed warm congratulations following the inclusion of the Spring Festival in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The announcement was made on Wednesday, marking a significant recognition of one of China’s most cherished traditions.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian conveyed the nation’s joy, stating, “We hope the Spring Festival will be a moment of joyfulness shared by all.” Lin highlighted the festival’s importance, noting it is the oldest and most significant traditional festival in Chinese culture—a time for family reunions and welcoming the new year.
“The Spring Festival embodies peace, amity, and harmony, values deeply cherished by the Chinese nation and civilization,” Lin said. “It’s a festival meaningful for China and enjoyable for the world.”
The Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar New Year, is celebrated by about one-fifth of humanity and is a public holiday in nearly 20 countries. Traditions include writing the character “fu” (meaning good fortune), hanging Spring Festival couplets, making dumplings, and enjoying dragon and lion dance performances.
Last year, the 78th United Nations General Assembly designated the Lunar New Year as a UN floating holiday, further recognizing its global significance.
With the Year of the Snake approaching in about six weeks, Lin extended an invitation to people worldwide: “We welcome friends from all over the world to experience the rich and wonderful Spring Festival culture. We hope its cultural message will contribute to a world with fewer conflicts, harmony among civilizations, and amity among peoples.”
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China hopes Spring Festival will be moment of joyfulness shared by all
cgtn.com
