China's Spring Festival inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

(Graphic/Global Times)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added "Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional New Year" to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held on December 4, 2024. China now has 44 items on the intangible cultural heritage list of the UNESCO, continuing to be the most enlisted country in the world.

As a signature part of Chinese culture, the Spring Festival, also called Chinese New Year, is one of the most important festivals practiced in China and around the world. 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. 

The Spring Festival bears Chinese civilization's pursuit of peace and harmony, promotes best wishes for the future, and substantiates the common values of humanity such as social inclusion and a sound relationship between man and nature.

Spring Festival puts family at its core. The Chinese cherish family and the strong bonds among family members, and extend this affection to the community and the nation and beyond. That's why each Spring Festival, millions of people from across the country embark on the journey home, making the phenomenon the greatest human migration on Earth. 

Celebrations for the Spring Festival last for 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival, to give full play to family gatherings, feasts, and various cultural activities. 

It starts at the dining table in every household. Spring Festival food traditions contribute a great deal to the culture of Chinese cuisine. From dumplings to sticky rice cakes, from fried meatballs to braised fish, and geographically from north to the south, all dishes carry the best blessings for people's loved ones during the Spring Festival.

The Spring Festival incorporates a comprehensive range of intangible cultural heritages at various levels. It is a festival filled with folk tales and the traditions based on them.

The fireworks and the red decorations in front of many homes and businesses were originally intended to scare away the beast called nian (year), a mythical beast thought to have preyed on people and livestock at the turn of the year. The monster, however, was afraid of loud bangs and the color red.

Today, during the Spring Festival, people carry on the tradition of hanging red lanterns, setting off fireworks and fixing red scrolls with rhyming phrases on their doors in the hopes these can ward off evil spirits and attract good luck.

In addition to the customs on specific days, there are also other interesting cultural symbols and events related to the festival. Many of these celebrations and events that have been passed down from generation to generation are practiced in China, Asia and beyond. They include paper-cuts, the dragon dance and lantern festival events, together forming the happiest of days for those who celebrate this event.