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Artists perform lion dance to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year at the Republic Square in Paris, France on Feb. 10, 2019. (Xinhua/Jack Chan)
by Lu Hui
BEIJING, Feb. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- During the past week-long Spring Festival holiday, China and the world were deeply immersed in a warm festive air.
Various kinds of colorful celebrations, conveying blessing and happiness, were held to showcase the traditional Chinese culture.
The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese lunar New Year, is the most important festival in China. Celebrations begin about a week in advance and end with the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the lunar new year.
Pasting auspicious spring couplets, having big family reunion dinners, swapping red packets of "lucky money" are among many ritual customs during the Spring Festival.
Today, with ever-increasing "China fever”, it has practically become a worldwide holiday.
A rich variety of wonderful performances were staged in many cities around the world, offering a good occasion to enjoy the rich Chinese cultural feast, such as folk music concert, martial arts, lion and dragon dances, Peking opera, firework display, and traditional Chinese music and dance. Many landmark buildings were lit up to greet the spring festival.
The truth of the festival is to usher in a fresh new year full of hope and to embrace people no matter where they are and what language they speak.
The festival is a window to Chinese culture and also a bridge between the peoples of different countries. Cultural exchange enhances mutual understanding and friendship.
China and the world share the benefits of the festival.
Chinese traveled to more overseas destinations during the recently-concluded Spring Festival holiday, online travel agency (OTA) Ctrip revealed. Official data show outbound trips increased by nearly 12.5 percent to over 6.31 million.
While making purchases for the Spring Festival, many Chinese preferred something new and different such as cranberries and lobsters from North America, avocados from Myanmar, codfish from New Zealand, and cherries from Chile.
The worldwide celebration of the Spring Festival sparkingly reflects China’s rising national strength and the opportunities an open, confident and prosperous China can generously offer to the world.
