- Region
- Águilas
- Alhama de Murcia
- Jumilla
- Lorca
- Los Alcázares
- Mazarrón
- San Javier
-
ALL AREAS & TOWNS
- AREAS
- SOUTH WEST
- MAR MENOR
- MURCIA CITY & CENTRAL
- NORTH & NORTH WEST
- TOWNS
- Abanilla
- Abarán
- Aguilas
- Alamillo
- Alcantarilla
- Aledo
- Alhama de Murcia
- Archena
- Balsicas
- Blanca
- Bolnuevo
- Bullas
- Cañadas del Romero
- Cabo de Palos
- Calasparra
- Camping Bolnuevo
- Campo De Ricote
- Camposol
- Canada De La Lena
- Caravaca de la Cruz
- Cartagena
- Cehegin
- Ceuti
- Cieza
- Condado de Alhama
- Corvera
- Costa Cálida
- Cuevas De Almanzora
- Cuevas de Reyllo
- El Carmoli
- El Mojon
- El Molino (Puerto Lumbreras)
- El Pareton / Cantareros
- El Raso
- El Valle Golf Resort
- Fortuna
- Fuente Alamo
- Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
- Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
- Isla Plana
- Islas Menores & Mar de Cristal
- Jumilla
- La Azohia
- La Charca
- La Manga Club
- La Manga del Mar Menor
- La Pinilla
- La Puebla
- La Torre
- La Torre Golf Resort
- La Unión
- Las Palas
- Las Ramblas
- Las Ramblas Golf
- Las Torres de Cotillas
- Leiva
- Librilla
- Lo Pagan
- Lo Santiago
- Lorca
- Lorquí
- Los Alcázares
- Los Balcones
- Los Belones
- Los Canovas
- Los Nietos
- Los Perez (Tallante)
- Los Urrutias
- Los Ventorrillos
- Mar De Cristal
- Mar Menor
- Mar Menor Golf Resort
- Mazarrón
- Mazarrón Country Club
- Molina de Segura
- Moratalla
- Mula
- Murcia City
- Murcia Property
- Pareton
- Peraleja Golf Resort
- Perin
- Pilar de la Horadada
- Pinar de Campoverde
- Pinoso
- Playa Honda
- Playa Honda / Playa Paraíso
- Pliego
- Portmán
- Pozo Estrecho
- Puerto de Mazarrón
- Puerto Lumbreras
- Puntas De Calnegre
- Region of Murcia
- Ricote
- Roda Golf Resort
- Roldan
- Roldan and Lo Ferro
- San Javier
- San Pedro del Pinatar
- Santiago de la Ribera
- Sierra Espuña
- Sucina
- Tallante
- Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
- Torre Pacheco
- Totana
- What's On Weekly Bulletin
- Yecla
- EDITIONS: Spanish News Today Alicante Today Andalucia Today
Date Published: 08/02/2024
How Chinese New Year is celebrated in Spain
The Year of the Dragon begins on Saturday February 10 with parades and festivities across Spain
The 4,000-year-old tradition of Chinese New Year (Año Nuevo Chino in Spanish) celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of a time of renewed growth, which is why it’s often referred to as ‘Spring Festival’.
Probably the most important date in the Chinese calendar, this year the celebration falls on Saturday February 10 and will herald in the Year of the Dragon.
The cycle will end on January 29 of 2025, coinciding with the first new moon of the first lunar month.
Chinese residents form one of the largest non-EU communities in Spain, and so the festivities will be evident in cities, towns and villages across the country. The Spanish capital will be the epicentre of the celebrations with a massive parade planned for Saturday afternoon and countless other activities including exhibitions, food tastings and childrens’ workshops spread throughout the month.
All of the major cities in Spain will feature street parties with fireworks, processions or displays and New Year’s Eve, February 9, is typically a very popular night to eat out in Chinese restaurants, which will be a blaze of colour and alive with a festive atmosphere.
What animal symbolises the Chinese New Year 2024
The Chinese zodiac features 12 animals – rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig – and each year is assigned its own.
In addition, each year is symbolised by one of five elements: water, fire, wood, metal and earth and 2024 will be also be the Year of the Wood Dragon. People born in the Year of Wood are said to be understanding and gentle with great depth of character.
How is Chinese New Year celebrated?
In China, people usually return home to enjoy a celebratory feast with their family. Homes both in Spain and abroad are adorned in red hangings, a lucky colour, and millions of lanterns are released into the night sky. The country is illuminated with spectacular firework displays and excited children are gifted with money in special red envelopes.
It’s also tradition to carry out a big ‘spring clean’ to rid homes of any lingering bad luck.
Just like in Spain, food plays a huge part in most Chinese traditions and New Year is no exception. One of the biggest feasts will be held on New Year’s Eve and the dishes that are chosen symbolise good fortune for the coming 12 months.
Fish, dumplings and spring rolls are eaten to welcome in wealth and prosperity, Tangyuan (sweet rice balls) create family togetherness while noodles represent happiness and a long life.
Images 1, 3, 4 & 5: Pixabay
Image 2: Festoon lights
Loading
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
25% Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
Contact Murcia Today: Editorial 000 000 000 /
Office 000 000 000