From January 21, 2023, Barcelona will be filled with activities to welcome the Chinese New Year of the Water Rabbit.
The Chinese yearbook is governed by the lunar calendar, so each year the dates of the New Year vary from the traditional Gregorian calendar we know.
Therefore, the Year of the Rabbit in China will begin next January 21 and last until January 9, 2024.
As this is one of the most traditional and important holidays, Barcelona is getting ready to celebrate it with the best festivities.
Barcelona prepares to welcome the Chinese New Year
While for most people we have just celebrated the end of the year, instead of grapes the Chinese New Year begins with dragons.
This tradition has been celebrated in the Catalan capital since 2014. It is the “Any Nou Xinès amb Barcelona”, where various Chinese and Catalan entities of the city participate and organize different activities to celebrate this date.
One of them is the Great Spring Festival this Saturday, January 21 at Passeig Lluis Companys in Barcelona. It will take place throughout the day and will be the beginning of a celebration that will last for two weeks.
The Festival will begin at 11:00 am at the intersection of Calle Vilanova and Roger de Flor.
The symbolic act that will start the celebration will be the ringing of the Gong, this time by the representative of the People’s Republic of China in Barcelona and the Mayoress of the city.
Afterwards, the parade will begin with a dragon that will travel through the main streets of the city.
The procession will start the route going up Roger de Flor, then turn into Alí Bei Street and reach Nàpols Street. It will then continue along Ausiàs March, and when it reaches Passeig Sant Joan, it will go down until it reaches the Arc de Triomf, where the whole party will be concentrated.
The stage at Arc de Triomf
The stage will host up to 35 shows from more than 40 Chinese and Catalan cultural groups and organizations, as well as from communities such as the Indian and Colombian.
Between 11:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and 20h. A gastronomic and cultural fair will be set up on Passeig Lluis Companys, so you can taste typical Chinese food and appreciate the different objects and souvenirs of the Year of the Rabbit.
Around midday, various small-format shows and workshops for children will be held.
The celebration will end around 8 p.m., but will actually be extended for two more weeks with the final event 15 days later: the Farolillo Festival.
If you want to know the details of the program for this day, you can consult the event’s website.
