The Spring Festival is not only the most important traditional festival for Chinese, but also carries rich cultural connotations and good memories for international friends living in China. As the Year of the Dragon is approaching, a reporter from People's Daily Online interviewed Latin American friends living in China and asked them to talk about their memories of the Spring Festival.
"Erbin, I'm here for the Spring Festival! ”
Paola Pereira, a young Colombian girl, traveled to Harbin two and a half years ago to pursue a master's degree in agricultural economics through a scholarship program offered by China.
China's thousands of years of culture are striking, they are boundless and incomparable. It takes adaptability and openness to inquisitiveness in order to incorporate and understand elements of culture that are different from our own. Paula said.
Paula celebrated her first Chinese New Year in the midst of the pandemic, when her university provided her with traditional delicacies such as dumplings, mooncakes, and zongzi. She also hung couplets in front of her house in the hope of attracting good luck. As the epidemic situation improved, the celebration of traditional festivals also returned to normal, and she felt a new festive atmosphere.
For me, Chinese New Year is one of the most beautiful festivals. The Spring Festival is the beginning of a new cycle, the beginning of the recovery of all things and the blooming of a hundred flowers. All of this is reflected in the streets draped with red lanterns, the houses decorated with beautiful visions, the bright sky with thousands of fireworks, the strong festive atmosphere, the abundance of food and red envelopes. Paula said.
Living in the cold city of Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province, allowed her to "interact with the culture of northern China."
In the early morning of January 5, in Harbin, Heilongjiang, the "Hongzhuan Morning Market" located on Hongzhuan Street was crowded. Many tourists taste the special food of the Northeast here, such as sticky bean buns, frozen pears, and red sausages. The picture shows tourists buying cold-proof hats. (*From China News Service).
During the Spring Festival, Harbin citizens eat the traditional Chinese New Year's Eve dinner at home. However, Harbin is also known as the Ice City (temperatures reach minus 30 degrees in winter), and some families, southern tourists, and other foreigners prefer to celebrate at the famous Snow Festival. She also said, "It is also fashionable to wear the traditional cotton jacket of Northeast China, and the red cotton jacket has colorful flowers on it, which is very bright and beautiful." ”
Among her favourite Chinese New Year foods, Paula specifically mentions Harbin's variety of rock sugar fruits and frozen fruits, and she was surprised to find that there is even tea made from frozen pears.
Paula also rarely misses the much-anticipated Spring Festival Gala. "The Chinese Spring Festival Gala is amazing. Not only because of its large-scale broadcast in countries around the world, but also because of its magnificent reproduction of the choreography, costumes and sets, showing the world that China is about to start a new cycle full of innovation, prosperity and auspiciousness. ”
Commenting on the Chinese Year of the Dragon, Paula said: "The dragon is a Chinese myth, a creation of strength, energy and vitality. She also hopes that with the help of the dragon, 2024 will be a year of success for herself in all aspects.
I hope that the Year of the Dragon will bring peace to mankind".
Héctor Villagrán, originally from Ecuador, estimates that he lives in China for a quarter of his life, while his children spend half of their lives.
For me and my children, this is a great opportunity to learn about China's development and prosperity, as well as to enhance mutual understanding between the people of China and Latin America, which will have a positive impact on the people of both countries. Héctor said.
Since 2010, he said, whether at his home in Beijing or at the invitation of other Chinese families, they have been able to experience the traditions of the Spring Festival with joy and respect.
We note that the idea of family and solidarity instilled in us by our ancestors has also been practiced in China for thousands of years. ”
In addition to family banquets, watching the Spring Festival Gala is also one of the important items of Héctor's Spring Festival.
"This is a Chinese tradition, and it is also my tradition," he said. I will be waiting for the message of the Chinese leader on December 31 in front of the TV, and I will also wait for the arrival of the Spring Festival in the Spring Festival Gala. In the Spring Festival Gala, I could see the artistic talent of the Chinese folk humor, dance and song. ”
For the Ecuadorian professor, China is a country of freedom, peace and respect.
Our whole family hopes that the Year of the Dragon will bring peace to humanity. Many countries in the world are still at war. My country, Ecuador, is also characterized by conflicts and violence. We hope for peace, and we hope that it will bring justice, health, friendship and prosperity to humankind. ”
This is the happiness of the Chinese."
Twenty years ago, Colombian Hernando Parada focused on China when she studied international business management, even though there was not much exchange between Colombia and China. Aware of China's potential, he traveled far and wide in search of opportunities.
Eventually, he found a career and happiness in China. Having lived here for 17 years, he has a deep sense of the charm of China's diverse culture.
Chinese culture is very interesting and what I like the most is the diversity of Chinese cuisine. It's hard at first, but slowly you'll start appreciating the cuisine and learning about the diversity of each region. "In Colombia, spicy food doesn't exist, and the chili peppers we know are nothing compared to the spiciness of Chinese food." Now, I like to eat dishes with chili peppers, especially Sichuan cuisine, which has chili peppers in Sichuan cuisine and has a very special taste. In the north, Peking duck is also one of my favorites. ”
At home in Foshan, Guangdong, Hernando enjoyed the long-awaited Spring Festival with his family.
My wife and son are both Chinese, so I am also part of a Chinese family. We also live in Foshan, my wife's hometown. I had the opportunity to spend the Chinese New Year with my extended family. Spring Festival is a family reunion, a family eats together, and I say that this is the happiness of the Chinese. ”
In addition to the tradition of family reunion, we will also take a walk in the flower street before the festival, which is a different street paved with flowers in the city, symbolizing the renewal of everything and the wealth in the coming year, and we will buy some flowers to decorate our homes to welcome the arrival of the new year. Hernando said.
Regarding life in China, Hernando defines it as living in "the next world power".
It's incredible. Even after living in China for so many years, I am still amazed at how fast China has grown. When you pass a place you haven't passed in a long time, there's a new bridge, a new road, or a new building. They never stop. That's the pace of our lives – full speed ahead! ”
Hernando is looking forward to the Year of the Dragon. "For the Chinese, dragons are very important and represent good luck. The dragon is the only mythical animal in the zodiac, so hopefully the Year of the Dragon will be a very positive year! (ENDS).
Author: Zhao Jian, [Cuba] Arthurph.