Filipe Porto, a Brazilian editorial consultant with the Center for the Americas under China International Communications Group, is interested in traditional Chinese culture. In late January, he received an invitation to visit the home of Beijing resident Li Hongsheng and immerse himself in the customs of Spring Festival celebrations. 

A global affair 

The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional celebration in Chinese culture. This year, the festival fell on January 29, marking the beginning of the Year of the Snake, with the related holiday running from January 28, or Chinese New Year's Eve, to February 4.   

At Li's home, Porto and Li made preparations for the festival together. Li explained to Porto that in the lead-up to the Chinese New Year, it is customary for families to thoroughly clean and decorate their homes, including adorning them with intricate paper cuttings. These decorations serve not only as beautiful embellishments but also as expressions of people's aspirations for a prosperous and fulfilling life. 

The festival serves not only as a time for family reunion, but also as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of cultures and the joyous sharing of heritage across borders. 

Today, Chinese culture transcends its geographical origins; it has evolved into a shared cultural treasure embraced by the world. Last year, the United Nations listed the festival as a floating holiday. Additionally, in December 2024, it was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting its global cultural importance. 

Nearly 20 countries and regions worldwide have adopted the Spring Festival as a public holiday. Approximately one fifth of the global population now celebrates it in diverse ways, with its customs and traditions spreading to nearly 200 countries and regions. 

The Chinese New Year fosters mutual exchange and learning. This year, in Hefei, capital of the province of Anhui, a spectacular "My Spring Festival in Anhui 2025" event was held on January 10. Attended by foreign nationals from 45 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Zambia, the gathering celebrated the spirit of the lunisolar new year by immersing guests in a lively cultural atmosphere. 

Participants were captivated by demonstrations of traditional intangible cultural heritage techniques, including complicated paper-cutting art and elegant calligraphy. The air was electrified by awe-inspiring performances, including the mesmerizing dragon and lion dances that left a lasting impression on attendees from around the world. 

In Berlin, Germany, the "Happy Spring Festival" New Year Celebration Gala and Spring Festival Reception was held at the Red City Hall on January 17. This festive reception featured an incredible showcase of talent, as Chinese artists wowed the audience with their performances, including traditional dance, acrobatics, and folk music. 

Sun Qinhang, Director of the Berlin Chinese Cultural Center, shared with China News Service that each year, around the Spring Festival, the center organizes a series of "Happy Spring Festival" events. "We aim to let our German friends experience the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year," he explained. These activities have become a bridge, allowing foreign citizens to gain insight into and appreciation for the cultural connotations of the Spring Festival. 

Cheer and cherries 

This festive season brings together family and friends, as well as a delightful array of products from around the world, transforming ordinary meals into extraordinary feasts.  

Li told Porto that the highlight of the Spring Festival is the New Year's Eve family dinner, a cherished ritual steeped in cultural connotation. In preparation for this grand occasion, Li and Porto embarked on a shopping trip to Freshippo, a popular supermarket chain known for its assorted offerings. Their first stop was the meat section, where they discovered an impressive selection of imported meat products, which are among the best-sellers in the run-up to the big holiday. 

After carefully comparing options, Li decided to add tender slices of imported beef to his cart, envisioning a delicious hotpot meal that would satisfy the whole family. Hotpot is a popular dining style where diners gather around a simmering pot of broth or soup at the table and cook their food to their liking right at the table. 

His choice of beef reflected a personal preference as well as underscored a broader trend: the increasing accessibility of international delicacies for Chinese households. 

The ease of acquiring products from around the world, such as premium beef from Uruguay, highlights the growing openness of China's market and the rising living standards of its citizens. As global trade flourishes, Chinese families are embracing culinary diversity, enhancing their festive celebrations with flavors from other parts of the globe. 

Uruguay, for example, has emerged as a big player in the global beef market, particularly in China. According to recent data from the Uruguayan Embassy in China, beef exports from Uruguay reached an impressive 494,599 tons in 2024, predominantly destined for China, the U.S., and the European Union, with China accounting for 38 percent of Uruguay's total beef exports. 

Since officially joining the Belt and Road Initiative, a China-proposed strategy to boost connectivity along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes, in 2018, Uruguay has seen a steady expansion of trade with China. Customs statistics reveal that total trade volume between the two countries surged from $4.6 billion in 2018 to $6.6 billion in 2024. This remarkable growth underlines the strengthening economic ties and mutual benefits derived from their partnership. 

Fernando Lugris, Uruguay's Ambassador to China, stressed the country's role as a leading exporter of agricultural products in a recent interview with newspaper Beijing News. He stated that Uruguay's agricultural prowess positions it to foster cooperation in food production and supply, making the country a dynamic and reliable partner for China's food security efforts. 

"Uruguay is also focused on services such as logistics and tourism, and it is a trade center in Latin America with excellent information technology companies. Chinese enterprises can leverage Uruguay's exclusive conditions, stable environment and strategic geographic location in South America for investment. In the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, we are ready to provide our free port system and efficient free trade zone network for industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and services," Lugris said. 

As Chinese consumers purchase goods from overseas for their Spring Festival celebration, foreign consumers also buy Chinese products for the Spring Festival. In mid-January, the X9101 Sino-Vietnamese Express Train, loaded with jams, beverages, biscuits, and milk tea powder, departed from Nanning South Station, in the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwest China, en route to Viet Nam. 

Xie Xiaomei, a staff member at the Nanning Railway Logistics Center, told newspaper Guangming Daily that the Spring Festival is not only an important traditional holiday in China but also a major traditional festival in Viet Nam. The cross-border cargo train, carrying Chinese specialties, provides a more diversified choice for local residents doing their holiday shopping. 

This festive spirit connects people of different cultures and serves as a bridge for mutual understanding, fostering deeper international friendships. 

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon  

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