UNESCO inscribes Chinese Spring Festival on its list of intangible cultural heritage

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has inscribed the Spring Festival, the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

It is specified that the decision was made at the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, which is held from 2 to 7 December in Paraguay.

The Spring Festival, or Chunjie, includes various social practices: family reunions for a gala dinner, community celebrations and more. Special attention is paid to the transmission of traditions and customs through families, communities and educational programmes. According to UNESCO, these practices contribute to strengthening family values, social cohesion and the preservation of cultural identity.

Chinese Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Zhao Quan, who led the Chinese delegation to the meeting, expressed his appreciation for the inscription of Chunjie on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. He stressed that the Spring Festival symbolises strong family ties and reflects the harmony between man and nature.

In 2025, Chinese New Year will begin on 29 January and last until 16 February next year. The holiday itself is celebrated for 15 days. The symbol of the coming year is the Wood Snake.

Photo: Xinhua News Agency