Wei Jie

Claudiamente@hotmail.com

THE Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE) was brimming with joyous laughter Saturday afternoon as around 60 expats and local residents gathered to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Snake during a Spring Festival event.

Organized by the Shekou MSCE, this event aimed to provide expats with deeper insight into the traditions of Spring Festival, one of China’s most significant festivals. This year’s Spring Festival falls on Jan. 29.

Festivities kicked off with calligraphy teachers guiding expats in writing the Chinese character “Fu” with a brush on red paper, a customary practice believed to bring luck for the new year. Children joined the fun by painting vibrant colors on Year of the Snake couplets.

Inclusion of the Northern Chinese New Year custom of crafting flower-shaped buns, an intangible cultural heritage item, allowed the expats to explore the aesthetic and symbolic richness embedded in these delicate creations. Attendees eagerly engaged in the activity, from kneading to carving.

Sugar-coated fruit (bingtang hulu), a popular traditional Chinese treat that represents reunion and sweetness, was also featured.

Both Chinese and expat residents joyfully strung the fruit together and relished the taste of this customary delight.

The Cantonese song “God of Wealth Arrives,” performed by Shekou MSCE staff, ignited a lively atmosphere, with attendees dancing to the music, heralding a prosperous start to the new year.

Expats showcased delicacies from their home countries，fostering an atmosphere of cultural exchange and camaraderie. From American-style banana bread to Brazilian-style cheese bread and Belarusian pancakes to Ukrainian honey-flavored apple pie, the diverse culinary offerings added to the festive spirit.

Discussing their exposure to Spring Festival activities, participants like Brazilian Armando Vallejo expressed joy and excitement at experiencing the celebrations firsthand, underlining the significance of the event as a memorable and heartwarming exchange of culture.