Communities worldwide have marked the Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, with colorful festivities and cultural events in recent days, as the holiday fell on Feb 17.
The Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom hosted a special Chinese New Year reception on Saturday for the families of survivors of the Lisbon Maru and members of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU).
The event was attended by more than 100 guests, including relatives of British prisoners of war rescued after the sinking of the Lisbon Maru during World War II, as well as representatives committed to promoting China-UK friendship.
"It's a fantastic gathering. We thank the embassy very much for putting it on every year for the families of the men that were on board the Lisbon Maru," said Anthony Jones, chairman of the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association.
On Saturday morning, the Community of Madrid in Spain held a race to mark the start of the Year of the Horse.
"The event is very good, and we are very excited to celebrate the festival here with the community," said Alberto, a participant.
In France, Paris Saint-Germain players took to the field wearing special jerseys featuring Chinese New Year elements during a Ligue 1 match on Saturday.
The Parc des Princes, the club's home stadium, was also festively decorated.
In Indonesia, a "Good Luck on Horseback" flash mob was held at Jakarta's Halim High-Speed Railway Station, drawing large crowds who watched the performances and interacted with the Chinese artists.
On Friday, the premiere of "Harmony of Spring," a Chinese New Year Gala celebrating Chinese intangible cultural heritage, was held in Perth, the capital of Western Australia.
The gala featured 14 performances, including a lion dance, a suona solo and acrobatics, delivering a colorful celebration of Chinese culture to audiences from all walks of life in Perth.
Chinese New Year ignites global celebrations
