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.

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 pursuit of happiness and wellness.

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 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 around the world. They include paper-cuts, the dragon dance and lantern festival events, together forming the happiest of days for those who celebrate this event.

Temple Fair

On the second day of the Spring Festival, people traditionally visit temples to offer prayers, seek blessings, and celebrate the Chinese New Year. The temple fairs often feature a variety of activities, including traditional performances, folk art, and the sale of local handicrafts and foods. Temple fairs symbolize a connection to tradition, offering a space for community bonding and spiritual reflection. Visitors may also light incense and make offerings to deities for good fortune in the coming year, making it both a spiritual and festive occasion. Many temple fairs from different provinces have been inscribed as National Intangible Cultural Heritage items.

Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival, traditionally held on the 15th day of the Spring Festival, marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations. During this festival, vibrant lanterns of all shapes and sizes are displayed, illuminating the night sky in a spectacular array of colors. People gather in public spaces to admire the lanterns, solve riddles written on them, and enjoy performances like dragon dances. The festival is a joyful occasion that symbolizes the reunification of family and the welcoming of a new year filled with peace, prosperity, and hope. Many Lantern Festival events, including the famed Zigong lantern show in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, have been listed as National Intangible Cultural Heritage items.

Dragon and Lion Dance

Now commonly seen in Chinese communities during Spring Festival parades worldwide, the Dragon and Lion Dance is a traditional performance where performers in colorful, elaborate costumes imitate the movements of a dragon or lion. The dragon, often long and carried by multiple dancers, symbolizes strength, vitality, and good luck, while the lion represents courage and protection. These dances are accompanied by the loud sound of drums, gongs, and cymbals, creating an energetic atmosphere that chases away evil spirits and ushers in good fortune. The dance is not only a visual spectacle but also a way to honor traditions and invoke blessings for the year ahead. Currently, China and Malaysia have jointly applied for the inclusion of the "Lion Dance" in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Shadow Play

Shadow plays are an important traditional folk art in China, especially during the Spring Festival. The performance takes place against a white backdrop, behind which skilled puppeteers bring to life various characters and scenes through the interplay of light and shadow. The combination of their craft and unique local music and singing styles creates a distinctive performance. The lively atmosphere of shadow plays offers a blend of storytelling and festivity. In 2011, UNESCO added Chinese shadow plays to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

New Year Painting

New Year paintings are a unique art form in Chinese folk culture used to decorate doors, walls, and windows during the Chinese New Year to invite heavenly blessings. The paintings typically feature door gods, the character fu (fortune), and other subjects depicting peace and happiness. These paintings are displayed to create a positive atmosphere and to express hopes for success, health, and happiness in the coming year. Many types of New Year paintings, including Mianzhu New Year paintings and Yangliuqing woodblock New Year pictures, have been made representative National Intangible Cultural Heritage items.

Paper-cut

Paper-cut works are traditional decorations for the Spring Festival. The themes are usually traditional ones, like the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, and symbols of wealth, longevity, happiness, and good fortune. As a key part of Chinese social life among all ethnic groups, paper-cut art expresses the moral principles, philosophies, and aesthetic ideals of its exponents. Paper-cut art holds special meanings, like wishes for prosperity, a good life, and good luck. There are also more specific designs such as "abundance year after year" or a chubby baby. Folk paper-cut works have a rich variety of themes in this regard. In 2009, paper-cut art was also listed by the UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.