Happy Snake Year!
Artists, institutions and entities are preparing the celebrations of the Chinese New Year in Barcelona.
Parc de l'Estació del Nord and Arc de Triomf will once again become a small Chinese culture exhibition in Barcelona for one day. Both spaces are hosting the celebrations of the New Chinese Year, which this year is the Year of the Snake. They are waiting for you on 25 January.
The activities are organised by Any Nou Xinès amb Barcelona, an association that brings together all the city's Chinese and Catalan entities, as well as the Huaxing Artists' Association. L'Any Nou Xinès amb Barcelona is also supported by the Fundació Institut Confuci de Barcelona, Casa Àsia, the Ajuntament de Barcelona and the General Consulate of the People’s Republic of China.
At 11 a.m., Jaume Collboni, Mayor of Barcelona, and Meng Yuhong, the General Consul of the People's Republic of China, will sound the gong, a signal to mark the beginning of the celebration and also the start of the parade, at Parc de l'Estació del Nord on Saturday morning, the 25th. The procession, with all the figures of the Chinese folk tradition and, of course, a few snakes, will cross the district of Fort Pienc, where many members of the Chinese community of Barcelona live, until it reaches Arc de Triomf.
Walk along Passeig de Lluís Companys and you will find a gastronomic and cultural fair that will be set up until 9.30 p.m., where you can taste products of Chinese gastronomy, including fruits and vegetables that you might not know (fancy Dragon’s eyes?) and that will show you the most authentic side of a millenary culture.
New Year'shows, from 12 to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m., including the popular dance of the lion that takes place every year during New Year's Eve or, as the Chinese call it, Half Autumn’s Fest, will take place throughout the day on the stage set up at the Arc de Triomf.
Remember that, in addition to the traditional celebrations on 25 January, Confucius Institute of Barcelona also organises activities related to the festival on these days: from workshops for children and adults (1 February) to film screenings related to these dates.
If you want to celebrate the Year of the Snake, come to Parc de l'Estació del Nord and Arc de Triomf, but first check the website for all the information about the celebrations.