Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most significant celebration in Chinese culture.

It's a time marked by time-honored traditions and joyful gatherings that emphasize family reunion, renewal, and hopes for prosperity in the year ahead.

The celebration of Chinese New Year has grown into a powerful symbol of the deepening ties between China and the rest of the world, including Africa.

This year, we welcome the Year of the Horse, specifically the Fire Horse or Red Horse, a year associated with passion, energy, and transformation.

As we gallop into this dynamic new chapter, what does the horse symbolize in both Chinese and African cultures? And what key themes and milestones might lie ahead for China-Africa relations in the new year?

Zhu Yaxiong, Associate Professor at Zhejiang Normal University, and Eric Mupona, a PhD student at Zhejiang University and Vice Chairman of the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Center share their views.

A festival with deep roots

Zhu Yasheng reflected on the significance of the festival.

"Spring Festival is a very important holiday in China. It is rooted in the long tradition of China as an agricultural society. It also is rooted in our ancestor worship."

He explained that beyond celebration, the festival is a ritual moment for family reunion and remembrance. From the legend of the monster Nian to the giving of red envelopes to ward off harm, tradition remains central.

"We are making use of this occasion to remember our common ancestors. This way, we are able to strengthen the bond of the family."

A festival recognized by the world

With the Spring Festival inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024, Professor Zhu called the recognition a milestone:

"This is a very important gesture of the recognition of Chinese tradition and culture in the world. A lot of experience accumulated from China's development can be shared by humanity."

He added that the festival carries a broader message: "We can coexist and we can cooperate even though we have differences between us."

An African perspective on Chinese New Year

For Eric Mupona, the Spring Festival has become deeply personal.

"I've been in China for eight years now. In total, I've celebrated eight Spring Festivals."

Currently spending the holiday in rural Hunan Province, Eric described the sensory experience of the celebration:

"For the sound, I will go for the popping sound from the firecrackers. That represents that we are now in the Chinese New Year. For the smell, I think it has to be the fresh smell of the calligraphy ink. In terms of the taste, I would go for the sweetness of the New Year cake, nian gao. It also means you are aiming higher.”

He sees strong cultural parallels between China and Africa, particularly in ancestor reverence and seasonal rituals.

"I also think that there are a lot of similarities between the Chinese culture and the African culture."

This year, Zimbabwe hosted its first Spring Festival Carnival, moving beyond performances to immersive cultural experiences.

"People have moved past that period of time where they just understand the Spring Festival from performances. Now they had to feel that it's an experience."

The horse: Energy, leadership, and mobility

Professor Zhu explained the symbolism of the horse in Chinese culture:

"For the horse, it symbolizes energy, success, freedom, and perseverance. Some people say people born in the Year of the Horse are natural leaders."

Eric drew connections to southern African traditions, noting similarities with the zebra as a cultural totem representing power and mobility.

A Year of milestones

2026 also marks significant political and economic developments. It is the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan and the 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic relations.

Professor Zhu highlighted expanded tariff-free access for African exports as signs of deepening cooperation.

Eric expressed hope for stronger people-to-people ties:

"Let's move out of our comfort zones, just like what the horses do. May the Year of the Horse ignite your dreams and may your wishes come true."

Both guests agreed that the Spring Festival is no longer just a national holiday. It is becoming a shared global experience grounded in unity, renewal, and cooperation.

（This newsletter was generated with the help of AI, drawing on the discussion transcript.）