Words and images byGao Junya
It’s that time of year again, the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year is upon us.
This is the most important festival for Chinese people around the world.
The Chinese Lunar New Year is a time for family gatherings, feasts upon feasts, and dazzling fireworks. Falling in winter and heralding the start of spring, that’s why it’s also known as the Spring Festival.
While working in southern Africa for several years, I had some unforgettable and unique memories of celebrating 6 Chinese New Year there.
The most striking difference is the weather. In the southern hemisphere, Chinese New Years falls during summer.
A dragon dance in Mauritius to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Photo in February 2018
I vividly remember covering the Chinese New Year celebrations in Mauritius in 2018, wearing a T-shirt and sweating profusely in 34 degrees Celsius heat- yes, I checked; it was 34 degrees! Never had I imagined celebrating the Lunar New Year in the heat of summer.
Despite the weather, the festive spirit was as vibrant as ever. In fact, the celebrations in Mauritius exceeded my expectations, showcasing an authentic Chinese style.
I witnessed grand parades with lively dragon and lion dances, stilts walkers and more. Of course, we didn’t miss the Spring Festival Gala, the most watch TV program in China. Interestingly, Mauritius has its own version of Spring Festival Gala as well. Every year, Chinese artists are invited to perform on the island, offering a variety of acts including singing, dancing and aerobatics, which are enthusiastically received. One performance that stood out was Mauritian singer Jane Constance singing the classic Chinese song, the Moon Represents My heart (yue liang dian biao wo de xin). Her incredible voice, undiminished by her visual challenges, captivated the audience and left a lasting impression on me.
A Chinese New Year decoration in a shop in Mauritius taken February 2018
Mauritius is the only country in Africa where the Chinese New Year is a public holiday. The festival is widely celebrated. The festive atmosphere extended far beyond China Town orhfy Chinese communities. Everywhere I went, restaurants, hotels and shops, was adorned with Spring Festival decorations, from paper cuts and lanterns to red couplets.
Zimbabwean artists sing at a gala to celebrate the Chinese New Year in January 2023
In addition to two Chinese New Year celebrations in Mauritius, I spent four in Zimbabwe. At Harare’s Longcheng Plaza, which means “dragon town”, fireworks are set off each year to welcome the Lunar New Year.
The Spring Festival temple fair is also held, featuring the usual dragon and lion dances and breathtaking aerobatics.
Zimbabweans practice Kungfu at a gala to celebrate the Chinese New Year in January 2023 shows
But what stood out most was the food. Both Chinese and Zimbabwean restaurateurs showcased their culinary specialties, adding a delicious twist to the festivities.
Now that I’m back to China, I’ve returned to experiencing the New Year in winter. Yet my memories of celebrating the holiday in Africa’s summer warmth always come flooding back. I hope more African friends can visit China to experience our customs and traditions firsthand, creating their own unique memories of the Chinese New Year.
UNESCO recently inscribed the Spring Festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. I think this recognition reflects the true essence of the Spring Festival. While it is a deeply Chinese tradition, it has become a global celebration, embodying the spirit of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
We all yearn for prosperity, which is why one of the most common Chinese New Year greetings is “Gong Xi Fa Cai,” meaning wish you wealth. With the deepening of China-Africa collaboration, more Chinese enterprises are entering Africa, exploring development opportunities and seeking prosperity. At the same time, they bring job opportunities and tax revenue to Africa. This aligns with an importance Chinese philosophy and one of the key goals of building a China-Africa community with a shared future: achieving win-win outcomes.
The upcoming Chinese New Year is the Year of the Snake. In Chinese culture, snakes symbolize intelligence, agility and wealth. I wish everyone have a happy and prosperous Year of the Snake and may it bring success and fortune. Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Gao Junya is a journalist with CGTN. She worked as a correspondent in Africa from 2018 to 2023.
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