International Online Report (Reporter Ruan Jiawen): On February 8, local time, Dietfurt, a city in Bavaria, southern Germany, held the annual Chinese Carnival (referred to as China Festival), attracting about 20,000 people.
Traditional Chinese cultural elements can be seen everywhere in Dietfurt during the festival. Red lanterns, blessing characters and colorful flags are hung on the main streets, and many shops also have Chinese auspicious phrases posted on them. The entire city hall is also decorated with lights and colorful decorations, filled with a strong Chinese New Year flavor. All the staff wore costumes with Chinese characteristics, and the 2024 Main Station Spring Festival Gala promotional video was played on the big screen, presenting a joyful festival scene.
The 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala promotional video was played in the city hall
Chinese Consul General in Munich Tong Defa and Dietfurt’s First Mayor Bernd Meyer attended the opening ceremony of the China Festival held at the city hall and showed the guests The main station's "Golden Dragon Welcomes the Spring" 2024 Spring Festival couplets gift box and Spring Festival Gala mascot Long Chenchen Dragon Claw pillow.
Tong Defa and Bernd Meier Exhibition Center for Cultural Creation
Tong Defa said in an interview with reporters: "This year's Carnival is very special because it coincides with the traditional Chinese New Year. The Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation. It means reunion, peace and joy. I think that in the current turbulent world, the significance of this traditional culture is similar to the Chinese Carnival in Dietfurt. I am very happy that Dietfurt is about 9,000 kilometers away from China. Our small town can hold the Chinese Festival every year, which shows that the traditional Chinese festivals and the Chinese Spring Festival are not only Chinese, but also global. I hope that more Germans can learn more about Chinese culture and Chinese culture through the Chinese Carnival in Dietfurt. Experience Chinese culture and hope that more Germans can go to China to appreciate the real Chinese culture. I wish this festival will get better and better and become an important platform for cultural exchanges between China and Germany, China and Bavaria."
Opening ceremony scene
Dietfurt is known as "Europe's first Chinatown". Since 1928, the city has held a Chinese Festival every winter to express its love for Chinese culture and further help the German people deepen their understanding of Chinese traditions and customs. Understand and promote exchanges and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations. Bernd Maier, the first mayor of Dietfurt, told reporters: "Historically, the people of Dietfurt have been proud to call themselves Chinese since the Middle Ages. In the past few decades, the relationship between Germany and China has The exchanges have become more frequent. Since tomorrow is Chinese New Year’s Eve, we will usher in the Chinese Year of the Dragon, so the biggest highlight of this year’s Chinese Festival is that there are many dragon-related elements, as well as the Chinese festive red color. I know that the dragon is here Chinese culture represents auspiciousness, so Chinese people will tend to make important decisions during this year to inherit good luck. Although the cultures are not the same, I hope that Dietfort can build a bridge between the people of Germany and China to deepen the Let’s do a small contribution to the friendship between the two countries.”
Carnival parade scene
In the carnival parade that afternoon, forty-six phalanxes composed of different associations and institutions passed through the streets of the city center accompanied by music and cheers. . Local people in Dietfurt and neighboring cities wore Chinese costumes designed by themselves and distributed candies to the audience while walking around. The local Chinese community also brought dragon dances, Tai Chi performances and Hanfu displays, which triggered constant applause and admiration from the audience.
Larissa Anmeier, a 14-year-old German girl who participated in the dragon dance performance in the parade, went to China for the first time with her family in May last year. She was very fascinated by China's unique customs and customs: "I think today's event is particularly great. , everyone is very excited, the atmosphere is very good, there are many people, I like it very much. Last year I went to China for the first time with my father, and I was deeply impressed by the enthusiasm of the local people and the Chinese culture. I would like to be in the Year of the Dragon When I go to China again, I hope to have the opportunity to experience the Spring Festival in China with my family.”
Larissa Anmeier (second from right) participated in the dragon dance performance in the parade
Larissa’s father, Bernd Anmeier, chairman of the German-Chinese Economic, Educational and Cultural Association, once again organized a dragon dance team to participate in the carnival this year parade. He believes that for many German people who are not familiar with China, participating in the Dietfurt China Festival is a good opportunity to understand and understand Chinese culture. With China’s unilateral implementation of the visa-free policy for Germany , I believe that more and more Germans will go to China to experience Chinese culture firsthand. Anmeier said that last year was his second visit to China after more than three years: "We were once again amazed at the changes in China, in terms of economy and technology. New developments have been made in various aspects such as transportation, infrastructure and so on, which is impressive. Of course, we are also very happy to meet our old friends again, because this kind of exchange helps to learn from China and deepen cooperation with China. It is crucial for Germany and China to complement each other's advantages and strengthen their friendship. 2023 is a year of good harvest, and I believe that in 2024, the Year of the Dragon, which represents good luck, everything will develop better. "
