The First Chinese New Year Fair in Havana took place this Saturday on the Paseo del Prado, where the representation of traditions of the Asian giant, including the Dragon dance and typical foods of the country, captured the interest of a large audience that gathered on the iconic boulevard, reported the agency Latin Press.
With the presence of the Chinese ambassador to Cuba, Hua Xin, the Spring Festival began, organized jointly between the legation of the diplomatic headquarters of that nation on the island and the government of the province of Havana.
Xin welcomed the Chinese New Year and referred to the deep friendship between the people of both countries, while thanking the provincial government, the Confucius Institute of the University of Havana and the Chinese community in Cuba for the support to develop the fair
“We meet here this morning with our Cuban friends to review what we have experienced and achieved during the past 12 months, and to start a New Year full of hope,” said the diplomat.
The Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival for the Chinese people; It has its origins in the knowledge of the ancient Chinese and has become a global celebration, highlighted Ambassador Xin, whose country is a key player in the modernization of the troubled national electro-energy system.
Starting in 2023, the Spring Festival was officially included as a holiday in the United Nations calendar and in 2024 it was inscribed by UNESCO in the Representative List of Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, Xin recalled.
In 2025 we will also celebrate this fair in Havana along with the Year of the Snake. We hope that China and Cuba achieve greater development and more cooperation, concluded the ambassador of the Asian power.
The cultural spectacle included the exhibition of songs, dances, fashion and martial arts of the second world economy.
At the end of the ceremony, the Chinese diplomat cut the red ribbon that inaugurated the great Spring Festival, opening an extensive segment of tents on the Paseo del Prado where various elements of Chinese popular culture were displayed.
The exhibition included souvenirs, food, fabrics, the unforgettable stuffed pandas along with small snakes made of fabric and other traditional Chinese pieces, he said. P.L..
Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez
President Xi
Chinese President Xi Jinping extended Spring Festival congratulations to citizens of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese during an inspection trip to the province. northeastern Liaoning.
For more than a decade, Xi has made it a tradition to spend time with ordinary people, especially those in difficulty due to natural disasters, days before the Spring Festival, highlighted the Chinese agency Xinhua.
The full revitalization of northwest China fundamentally depends on reform and opening up, and more efforts should be made to strengthen the rule of law in government operations and optimize the business environment, Xi demanded, calling on officials to improve their capabilities and performance in line with the greater openness of the country.
Mobility and commerce
China’s railway system provided transport this Friday to 14.2 million passengers, marking the highest daily volume of travelers recorded so far during the period of greatest mobility on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.
The 40-day period, considered the largest annual movement of people and known in Chinese as chunyun, occurs every year before, during and after the Lunar New Year holidays, which in 2025 fall between January 28 and January 4. of February.
In cities across the country, streets are already decorated with motifs alluding to the snake, illuminated by red lanterns and adorned with paper cutouts to attract good luck, while families finalize preparations and travelers crowd stations and airports before the holidays. in which it is traditional to return to the place of origin.
The Lunar New Year festivities not only mobilize millions of travelers, but also the consumer market in China, where box office pre-sales for new film releases already exceeded 400 million yuan (55.1 million dollars) until January 23, reported the Ministry of Commerce.
Year of the Wood Snake
2025 will be the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese horoscope, starting on January 29.
According to Chinese astrology, this year is characterized by being conducive to personal growth and evolution, focusing on meeting personal needs to achieve goals. Furthermore, it is considered a favorable period for transformation and wisdom.
For the Chinese, the snake is a complex symbol that represents wisdom and the resurrection power of nature. Although it is considered a sacred animal, its perception can also be negative. In the context of Chinese astrology, people born under this sign are seen as creative, talented and selective.
In the Chinese lunar calendar, 2025 corresponds to the year 4723 and ends on February 16, 2026.
