Chinese New Year: Portugal celebrates a year that will bring patience and good luck

OUR chinese new year festival 2023 was commemorated at the Fundação Oriente in Lisbon, an event supported by the Chinese Embassy and Lisbon City Council, where it was commemorated in the presence of prominent Portuguese and Chinese figures to the sound of spring festival concert.

In the northern region of the country, the Chinese New Year Festival 2023 was held in Porto. The square in the center of Porto was filled with a festive atmosphere, traditional Chinese dragon and lion dances attracted a large number of local Portuguese.

Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Zhao Bentan and Porto Mayor Rui Moreira were among the more than 200 guests in attendance. The gala evening took place in Campo Alegre with a very encouraging program.

Auspicious Year of the Rabbit

If in the West we live in 2023, then the Chinese population has just entered the year 4721. Under the auspices of the Rabbit, on January 22, the doors opened for the Chinese New Year, a date celebrated not only in China. but throughout Asia and in countries with large Chinese communities, as in the case of Portugal.

Unlike the Western Gregorian calendar, which is based on the time it takes for the Earth to revolve around the Sun (365 days), in the Chinese calendar, the parameter is the Moon, that is, the new year begins on first new moon after winter solstice and ends after twelve full cycles (about 354 days).

Every year brings with it a new sign. Tradition says that the Buddha called the animals. Since only twelve responded to his call, they were honored and came to represent the calendar years: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

OUR Rabbit, according to Chinese tradition, was the fourth animal that appeared before the emperor after crossing the river, clinging to the trunk, which was helped by the breath of the Dragon. thanks to this scam blessed and patient managed to reach the shore.

The Year of the Rabbit was celebrated on January 22, and the fun continues. After a busy period, the Chinese hope that the new year will bring with it the auspices symbolized by this animal: patience, longevity, luck, kindness and tranquility.

The Chinese New Year celebration coincides with the beginning of a new cultivation cycle, farewell to winter and welcome to the new season, which is why it is also called the “Spring Festival”.

For several days there are parties, parades, fireworks and a traditional dragon dance. Families gather for dinner and Red color – symbol of good luck and fortune – prevails in clothes, in the decoration of houses and shops, and even in red envelopes (usually with money and, as usual, in an even number) offered to older children and single young people.

Spring Festival links China with Portugal

On January 22, the Museu do Oriente auditorium also became the stage for festivities with the Spring Festival Concert, which not only celebrated the Chinese New Year, but also shared happiness and hope with the Portuguese.

Selected for the occasion, works by Chinese and European composers united East and West in a program that included well-known performers: Lisbon Chamber Ensemble (internationally successful group consisting of musicians from different parts of the world), Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestrasoloists Bin Chao violin (guest concertmaster of the Gulbenkian Orchestra and conductor of orchestras in Europe and the East) and Zeming Wu at the piano (a young man of rare talent who, at the age of 10, has already won countless national and international awards).

Persons present

This special event could not fail to have outstanding personalities. Opening speeches, Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Coinsbegan by emphasizing that “the patronage of the Year of the Rabbit is spreading throughout the city,” whose message of peace and courage is extremely important to the whole world.

Three points were highlighted in his speech: the vitality of the Chinese community in Lisbon, “an integral part of (its) day-to-day dynamics” in sectors as diverse as trade, culture, medicine, catering and innovation, the importance of Lisbon as a multicultural city because ” innovations are born only with this diversity” and, finally, a strong bond between the two cultures and a thousand-year relationship between the two peoples.

Nuno Fazenda, Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Servicesechoed the words of Carlos Moedas and expressed confidence in the future, aiming for “a promising year in the relationship of cooperation between the two countries in a wide variety of areas, namely in areas that protect tourism, trade and services.”

Except President of the Association of Portuguese-Chinese Merchants and Industrialists, Choi man hin, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Portugal, Zhao Bentangmade no secret of his emotions when he emphasized his optimism for the future of relations between the two countries and testified that Lisbon is an open and inclusive city where the Chinese community feels welcome and happy.

Zhao Bentang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Portugal, with Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon

Choi Hin Man, President of the Association of Portuguese-Chinese Merchants and Industrialists

Nuno Fazenda, Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce and Services

It remains for us to end with the wishes of a good year. Xin Nian Kuai Le. Happy New Year.