Happy Chinese New Year: From China to the World

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma will be one of the artists performing with the New York Philharmonic at the concert for the Lunar New Year. [Photo/Chinadaily.com]

As Christmas finds more followers in China, Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, also brings its blessing and festive atmosphere across the world. And just as the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing united the whole world with “one dream”, today, Chinese New Year is becoming a world festival.

Since 2009, a number of celebrations have been held overseas under the theme, Happy Chinese New Year, engaging both overseas Chinese and citizens from all over the world. The Ministry of Culture has launched the sixth Happy Chinese New Year in 2015, when over 800 programs will be staged in more than 320 cities in 118 countries and regions. Happy Chinese New Year will begin on Feb 4th, and end on Mar 5th, the Lantern Festival.

"With the popularity of Happy Chinese New Year, more overseas companies and arts institutes are willing to provide support in a partnership, including the Empire State Building, the British Museum, the national TV network of Belarus and another 300 partners across the world," Ding Wei, vice minister of China’s Ministry of Culture, said.

In 2014, Happy Chinese New Year kicked off in Chicago under the auspices of the municipal government. Mayor Rahm Emanuel presented the Chinatown celebration parade and announced it was the largest celebration of Chinese New Year in North America.