Chinese New Year in Spain 2017
We are rapidly approaching the Chinese New Year in Spain 2017 and, just like last year, we’d like to give you a little more information… especially as we seem to be attracting lots of Chinese visitors to our website now.
There are various celebrations held around Spain due to the growth of the Chinese population here – here we look at just a few of them.
Chinese New Year in Spain
The Chinese New Year 2017 begins on January 28, although celebrations do begin ahead of time. This is the year of the rooster.
Best known in China as the Spring Festival (春节, 春節, chūnjíe), the Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival of the Chinese calendar. The date is determined by the lunisolar calendar traditionally used in China. According to this calendar, the celebration of a new year falls, usually, on the second new moon after the boreal winter solstice.
Gregorian calendars (what we Westerner use) use the “day” as a unit of measurement – whereas lunisolar calendars use the month. Therefore the Chinese New Year cannot be transferred into an exact date in the Gregorian calendar. It falls between January 21 and February 21. We then need to find the new moon day nearest to the lichun (立春, lìchūn, “beginning of spring”).
The celebrations will start the first day of the first lunar month (正月, zhēng yuè) and will finish on day 15, when the Festival of Flowers is held (元宵节, 元宵節, yuánxiāojié).
Thanks to UV.es for the information about the lunisolar calendar
Speak to your local Ayuntamiento to see if they have events planned for your town.
Alternatively – have a look below to see if there is anything you fancy.
Chinese New Year in Barcelona
The Catalans and Chinese blend seamlessly in an explosion of colour and events in Barcelona each year. The parade goes right past the Sagrada Familia and includes all manner of spectacles.
Lions, Chinese and Catalan dragons, martial arts, dances, music, ‘castellers’ (human towers), devils, percussionists, giants… and more.
The events combine the traditions of both cultures and usually attracts crowds.
The parade should be on January 28, leaving Estación del Norte park at 11.30am, and arriving at 1pm at the Arc de Triomf – but please check with your travel organisers or the event organisers before making firm plans.
Chinese New Year in Madrid
There are various celebrations held around Spain but for the biggest and best, you should head to Madrid. Each year more and more events are sponsored by the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Cultural Centre including craft fayres, parades and concerts.
This multicultural city sees the stores around Lavapies decorated with Chinese colours and memorabilia, while you can also enjoy colourful parades featuring the lion and dragon. The Chinese population don their national dress and the area explodes with colour and light. The parade usually starts at Puerto del Sol and ends at the Plaza de España where the party really kicks off.
Chinese New Year concert
Place: Chinese Cultural Centre Auditorium
Date: January 14 2017
Time: 7:00 p.m.
The Chinese Cultural Center in Madrid presents the Chinese New Year Concert on Saturday, January 14 at 7 pm in the Auditorium. The prestigious musician Ma Jiuyue and his orchestra perform new trends of the traditional music.
To book –
Email: eventos@ccchinamadrid.org
Phone: 917 820 000 (10am – 1:30pm /4:30pm – 7: 30pm)
(Maximum 3 seats per reservation)
Yummy! Chinese Ruta de Tapa
After the success of 2016, The Chinese Embassy, with the cooperation of the Madrid city council, are organising a Chinese foodie route to coincide with the Chinese new year.
18 restaurants are participating from January 13 to February 12, all known for their high quality of cuisine.
- Asia Gallery (inside The Westin Palace hotel)
- Asia Te
- Baiwei
- Café Saigón
- Casa Lafu
- China Té
- El Bund
- Food Love
- Kzen
- La Dehesa
- Lounge Yi
- Mo Restaurante
- Pato Laqueado de Pekín
- Royal Cantonés
- Royal Mandarín
- Sorgo Rojo
- Tse Yang
- Zen Market
- Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques
Prices range from €20 to €80 for a special festive menu.
Youc an enjoy some wonderful Chinese flavours, including from special guest chefs who have travelled for the event. These chefs include Fu Haiyong, a specialist in Sichuan cuisine (there are eight Chinese cuisines and this is the most spicy). Fu Haiyong will be based in the kitchen at the Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques for the entire month.
In China, there are eight styles and culinary schools in Sichuan, Shandong, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan and Anhui.
In addition, in the Plaza Mayor, from 13 to 19 January, La Casa del Té will be set up, where you can enjoy this typical Chinese drink and learn more about its history and tradition.
China Taste, the organiser of the event, will be making a donation from every meal to the Plena Inclusión Madrid (Federation of Associations for People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities). The money will go to a social project aimed at social inclusion and labour rights for people with disabilities.
Chinese New Year in Valencia
Valencia was this year granted World Heritage status for its famous Fallas parades. Those giant heads and colourful statues have a huge amount in common with the Chinese lion and dragon performances in terms of size, colour and impact.
Each year the Confuscius Institute at the Universitat de Valencia holds a traditional parade, featuring the Chinese dragon as well as different groups of taiji, martial arts, traditional costumes and of course the traditional lion and dragon dance.
The Institute has also historically held workshops and many other cultural events alongside the main parade.
Imagine dancing, music, parades and fireworks – what more could you wish for?
Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper.
Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.
