In response to UNESCO on Wednesday inscribing Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditional new year, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian congratulated China on this achievement on Thursday.
Lin stated that the Spring Festival is the oldest and most important traditional holiday in Chinese culture, a time for bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, as well as for family reunions. Familiar customs such as writing Spring Festival couplets, making dumplings, and dragon and lion dances embody the values of peace, harmony, and unity in Chinese civilization. These customs are not only part of China's heritage but also belong to the world.
Lin also mentioned that nearly 20 countries worldwide recognize the Lunar New Year as a public holiday, with about one-fifth of the global population celebrating the festival in various ways. Furthermore, the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly officially designated the Lunar New Year as a UN holiday last year.
"In just a month and a half, we will be celebrating the Spring Festival of the Lunar Year of the Snake," Lin Jian said. "We warmly welcome journalists and friends from all over the world to come to China and experience the rich and vibrant Spring Festival culture. We also sincerely hope for the resolution of conflicts around the world, harmonious coexistence of different civilizations, and closer bonds between people of all nations, so that we can all celebrate the Spring Festival together and share in its joy."
The listing of the Spring Festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is an acknowledgment of not only its Chinese roots but also the ideas it carries that connect all humanity.
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