Festive 2022 Lunar New Year Celebrated in Saudi Arabia
Chinese New Year 2022 is celebrated with great fanfare in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This festive celebration is seen in the Riyadh Seasonal Festival.
In this celebration, there is a brightly lit advertising screen, displaying images of Chinese culture, such as traditional houses and red lanterns, accompanied by congratulations written in Chinese, Arabic, and English. Citing Arab News, there is also a fountain show accompanied by traditional music. China, while the splashes of water reflect the red color of the existing lights, making the scene even more stunning. China's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Chen Weiqing, praised the celebrations on Twitter, considering it a good gesture.
"Thank you for your kind gesture, Abu Nasser. I hope the Chinese New Year will be a good and blessed year for two friendly people, and also China and Saudi Arabia will continue to cooperate which is beneficial for both countries," Chen said in reply to a tweet. from the CEO of the General Entertainment Authority and chairman of the Riyadh Season Festival, Turki Al-Sheikh. In another Twitter statement, Chen greeted the public by saying, "Ahead of the Lunar New Year in the Year of the Tiger, we wish everyone a Happy New Year, and wish Chinese and Arab continue to go hand in hand to create a better future."
For the Chinese calendar, this year's Lunar New Year is the year of the Tiger. Chinese New Year itself falls on February 1, 2022.
Apart from China, the biggest Chinese New Year Celebration is in Dubai
Chinese New Year or Chinese New Year is celebrated on a large scale in China. As many as 1.2 billion Chinese people will be dissolved in the frenetic celebrations, meeting relatives at home, to various other traditions. It turns out that not only in China, Chinese New Year celebrations are also held in other countries. But who would have thought, the most magnificent Chinese New Year celebration outside China was held in the Middle East, to be precise in Dubai.
As quoted from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) media, Khaleej Times, the Chinese New Year celebrations in Dubai were organized by Hala China, a joint venture between investment companies Dubai Holding and Meraas. The celebration will be held from Friday (17/1) until the next month. Chinese New Year itself falls on January 25 next. The celebration started from Al Mustaqbal Street on City Walk which is now decorated with red dragon ornaments and lanterns. There will be a parade on the streets of Dubai with the theme of Chinese New Year, ranging from acrobats from China, kung fu warriors, lion dances, to traditional Chinese dances. There are more than 40 performing groups, consisting of Chinese ex-pats, school students until a marching band from the Dubai police took part in the parade.
In addition to delighting the 150 thousand Chinese citizens working in Dubai, this celebration is expected to attract 50 thousand tourists from China to the country.
Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, a member of Hala China's Board of Directors, claims this is the biggest Lunar New Year celebration outside of China. He said that this celebration shows that China is the UAE's best trading partner. "Bilateral trade is estimated at more than 250 billion dirhams (Rp 928 trillion), a clear sign of our productive relationship. A total of 680 new business permits were issued to Chinese companies in 2019. Read More out of 200,000 Chinese ex-pats living in the UAE," Shehhi was quoted as saying. Li Xuhang, China's Consul General in Dubai, said that the Lunar New Year celebrations in Dubai were a good opportunity to introduce Chinese culture to Arab lands.
"The celebration of the Chinese Spring Festival provides an opportunity for everyone to learn about Chinese culture and history, thereby providing great cultural knowledge and social integration for citizens of the two countries," Xuhang said.
Miss Chinatown election in San Francisco, USA
Slightly different from the Chinatown district in some states in America. The state of San Francisco also has a series of events that are no less exciting during the Chinese New Year. One of them by doing the election of Miss Chinatown USA. Every year the Miss Chinatown election is held whose coronation coincides with the Chinese New Year celebrations in San Francisco.
A week's work holiday in Macau
Chinese New Year in Macau is one of the most awaited holidays by residents. During Chinese New Year celebrations in Macau, there is a policy from the local government to have holidays for those who work for up to 5 days, just like during Eid in Indonesia. During the long holiday, people will fill the entertainment area along the road to celebrate the spirit of the Chinese New Year.
Chinese New Year Parade in Australia
Chinatown in Sydney attracts more than 600,000 people every Chinese New Year celebration. The street will be lined with food stalls, costume parades, traditional opera performances, lion dance, and dragon attractions. Lanterns and fireworks and firecracker displays also add to the lively atmosphere in Sydney.