Chinese Americans laud festival recognition

The news that Spring Festival was officially recognized by UNESCO on Wednesday has generated an outpouring of pride across Chinese American communities in the United States.

Zhang Yong, chairman of the Roundtable of Chinese American Organizations, called it a milestone for Chinese culture globally.

"This represents respect and recognition for traditional Chinese culture and will undoubtedly help promote it worldwide," Zhang said.

He emphasized the festival's significance for Chinese Americans, saying it enhances cultural identity. "With this success, we must further tell China's story well and promote our culture on the global stage," Zhang said.

A cornerstone of Chinese cultural tradition, Spring Festival has been officially inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

UNESCO announced the designation during the 19th session of its Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Asuncion, Paraguay, which ran from Monday to Saturday.

"The Spring Festival is a vibrant expression of unity, cultural pride and sustainable living," UNESCO stated.

San Francisco Bay Area resident Yan Jieyu welcomed the announcement by wearing traditional Chinese hanfu attire, reflecting on the long history of Chinese immigrants in the US.

"Since 1885, our ancestors never forgot their traditions. Now I can officially say 'Happy Chinese New Year' to my neighbors and non-Chinese friends — cool!" Yan said.

For Yu Zhongxia, president of the Inner Mongolia General Chamber of Commerce in the US, inclusion on the UNESCO list was both a personal and national celebration. "Congratulations to our motherland. I wish everyone a Happy New Year!"

Huang Dongping, president of the American Southern California Chinese Economic and Trade Cultural Association, underscored the festival's growing inclusivity. "Spring Festival has become a world festival. We will invite more ethnic groups to join us in our celebrations," Huang said.

Nancy Bo, head of EE Data Wonderful Entertainment in Texas, recalled the festival's origins dating back 3,000 years to the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC).

She highlighted the tradition's universal appeal by saying "wherever there are Chinese people, the tradition of celebrating Spring Festival will be preserved".

David Chong, president of the US-China Youth and Student Exchange Association in Washington, said, "This recognition shows that our country's cultural influence is expanding, and its status on the international stage is becoming more important."

Lan Jin, president of the Oregon China Council, said the festival is a unifying event for Chinese people worldwide.

"The Spring Festival is not only a traditional Chinese holiday, but also the most important cultural bond in the hearts of Chinese people globally," Lan said. "The successful inscription allows us to feel the strong influence of our homeland's culture, making us more united and confident even while living abroad."

Bo urged Chinese American communities to educate young generations about the festival's significance.

"We must let our children understand and celebrate Spring Festival, ensuring its fireworks continue to bloom for thousands of years", she said.

Chang Jun in San Francisco, Linda Deng in Seattle and May Zhou in Houston contributed to this story.