Warm Compatriots, Relieve Homesickness Overseas Chinese and Ethnic Chinese in Europe greet the Spring Festival together

Source: People's Daily Overseas Edition

Warm compatriots a relief from homesickness

Overseas Chinese in Europe welcome the Spring Festival (overseas Chinese concern)

In the sound of firecrackers, the spring breeze sends warmth into Tu Su. With the approaching footsteps of the Spring Festival, overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese in various parts of the country have actively carried out Online Spring Festival Gala, New Year Group Visits, Spring Festival Condolence Packages, Wearing Hanfu palace lamps and other New Year activities, sending a strong Spring Festival flavor to the local returned overseas Chinese relatives and the masses.

The crowd gathered to sing the New Year

The 13th Austrian Chinese New Year Gala, jointly organized by the Austrian Chinese Women's Federation, the Austrian Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars, and the Vienna Huaxing Art Troupe, will be held online on January 30. Up to now, the party has gone through 12 years of ups and downs and has become one of the important activities for local overseas Chinese to celebrate the Spring Festival.

"In order to let compatriots far from home feel the festive flavor of 'New Year', since 2009, the organizers have held a New Year's Party in Vienna every year, and every year it is full and it is difficult to find a ticket." Xie Feiru, president of the Austrian Chinese Women's Federation who has been in Austria for nearly 30 years, said in an interview.

On February 9, 2018, Li Xiaosi, Chinese Ambassador to Austria, also stepped on this wonderful stage to sing familiar songs such as "Don't Forget the Initial Heart" and "Sing the Motherland" with Chinese students in Austria, winning endless applause and cheers from the audience.

It is reported that the annual Austrian New Year Gala has a total of 17 to 19 programs, mainly based on traditional Chinese song and dance programs, and the whole party lasts for 3 hours. Fascinating opera, graceful folk dances, elegant and popular cross-talk, strong and powerful martial arts... The carefully choreographed program brings a strong warmth to the wanderers far away from home, and even after the performance, many audiences are reluctant to leave for a long time.

Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, many overseas Chinese have chosen to "celebrate the New Year in situ" abroad. Xie Feiru said, "Although the epidemic has disrupted many plans, we have not stopped our work of disseminating Chinese culture and promoting Sino-foreign exchanges. Last year, due to the spread of the epidemic, we suspended for a year, so everyone attaches special importance to and looks forward to this party in 2022, and we will continue the past tradition in the form of online live broadcast to send New Year greetings to compatriots at home and abroad. ”

Xie Feiru said, "The festive performance can make overseas Chinese and Ethnic Chinese far away from home feel cordial, after all, the Spring Festival is an important festival that can briefly put down work and gather with family and friends, and I hope that this audio-visual feast can solve the pain of homesickness for everyone." ”

The Chinese New Year gift package warms the hearts of overseas Chinese

Under the epidemic situation, in order to let the overseas Chinese in The West enjoy a solid and peaceful Spring Festival, the comfort activities for overseas Chinese sponsored by the Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese in Zhejiang Province and jointly undertaken by overseas Chinese in Spain and major local overseas Chinese groups are scheduled to be held on January 20, and hundreds of heavy New Year gift packages will be sent to the hands of returned overseas Chinese on this day.

The heart-warming Chinese New Year gift pack contains rice cakes that mean "high year and good year", red dates that bless life with fiery red and sweet, and all kinds of daily necessities... Chen Jianxin, president of the Spanish Overseas Chinese Association, said in an interview, "The Spring Festival is a very important traditional festival for us Chinese, and the representatives of the overseas Chinese group hope that all overseas Chinese in The West will have a year of peace of mind. ”

"In order to reduce the risk of virus transmission caused by the large-scale movement of people during the Spring Festival, this year we have narrowed the scope of gift packages, limiting the number of overseas Chinese to about 300 as much as possible, hoping that some of the returned overseas Chinese relatives who have difficulty choosing 'In situ New Year' can also spend a happy and peaceful Spring Festival." Chen Jianxin said.

In addition to sending chinese New Year gift packages, the Spanish overseas Chinese group will also hold the 21st online Chinese New Year group meeting on January 28. Chen Jianxin excitedly introduced, "This year's group visit, Chinese ambassador to Spain Wu Haitao, the mayor of Madrid and other guests have promised to participate, the number of people will be strictly controlled at 250 people, I hope that the representatives of the overseas Chinese groups elite, international students and representatives of Chinese-funded enterprises can take this as an opportunity to enhance mutual understanding between the people of China and the West." ”

Near the Spring Festival, many Chinese neighborhoods in Spain have long been illuminated, with a festive atmosphere. Chen Jianxin said, "Although we are in a foreign country, everyone hopes to feel the atmosphere of the Spring Festival. To this end, Chen Jianxin and other overseas Chinese also planned a cloud New Year temple fair with a strong annual flavor, and tried to convey more New Year atmosphere to local overseas Chinese.

It is reported that the cloud temple will be held for 4 consecutive days from February 12 to February 15. "This temple fair is divided into four main sections: the first section is 'Lantern Festival', which is mainly performed by students of Spanish Chinese schools; the second session is 'Show Talent', which has performance programs such as singing, dancing, and piano ensembles; the third section is 'Tasting Food', which mainly invites some traditional Chinese restaurants in the West to make some traditional Chinese snacks, dishes, etc.; and the last is 'Passing on Culture', including Chinese calligraphy and painting, Taiji martial arts, etc." Chen Jianxin said.

"In order to prepare for these New Year activities, we have spent a lot of time and energy to prepare, hoping that all overseas Chinese in The West can feel our good wishes for the New Year, greet the New Year of the Tiger together, and let the festive taste of the Spring Festival spread to the hearts of compatriots." Chen Jianxin said.

Take "service" as the medium to celebrate the festival

In addition to Austria and Spain, the French overseas Chinese are also planning various Chinese New Year activities in full swing. Zhongjianhan, president of the French Han Cultural Association, said, "This year, we plan to hold 3 New Year activities in Paris, but at present, the epidemic situation in France is tense, and if the epidemic continues to worsen, some New Year activities may be cancelled." ”

"On February 20th, we planned a Lantern Festival in Hanfu to make palace lights, which requires participants to concentrate on the scene, immerse themselves in the traditional Chinese festival atmosphere, and experience the fun of making traditional palace lamps. Many of the participants later became 'iron fans' of Chinese culture and developed a love and identification with Chinese aesthetics. Zhongjian letter said.

Palace lanterns, also known as palace flower lanterns, are one of the most distinctive traditional handicrafts in China, which began in the Eastern Han Dynasty and flourished in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, with strong Chinese characteristics.

Zhongjian Han said: "In the court in ancient times, once there was a celebration activity, it would be decorated with lights and feasts. After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, every Lantern Festival, the family treasure lanterns hung high, and the lights were bright everywhere. In this historical context, we chose to use the way of 'making palace lamps' to celebrate the festival with our compatriots, and the participants only need to bear the material cost of making palace lamps, and then we will wear Hanfu, carry the palace lamps made by ourselves, and swim with the local people on the Seine River. ”

In Zhongjianhan's view, the form of celebrating the Spring Festival with compatriots can be diverse and innovative, the main purpose of which is to let the wanderers who are far away from home find a sense of belonging in France.

"In addition to the three main Chinese New Year activities, we also have many small activities, such as dancing classical dance in Hanfu, comforting the French disabled home, mainly hoping to expand the influence of Chinese festivals in the process of sending warmth, and also provide an opportunity for compatriots to show their talents." In addition, we also plan to lend Chinese Hanfu to middle school students in some French schools, so that they can wear Hanfu while feeling the warmth of the Chinese New Year, which will become more and more popular in the local area. Zhongjian said.