Culture
2019.02.13 17:00 GMT+8

Spring Festival celebration gains popularity in Brazil

By Li Qiong

Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, was widely celebrated in Sao Paulo which has the largest population of Chinese in Latin America. 

It's been more than 200 years since the first Chinese settled in the Brazilian city. But their own cultures have melted into the local scene as they sought to assimilate. 

To many locals, celebrating the festival is important.

A fire dragon dance is performed during Chinese New Year celebrations in Sao Paulo, Brazil, February 9, 2019. /VCG Photo 

Indigenous Brazilians joined Chinese people to witness traditional Chinese performances during the celebration. 

"Our whole family is learning Chinese kung fu. My wife and I practiced first, and now our four-year-old daughter joined in," said a Brazilian man.

Chinese acrobats have also gained Brazilian fans.

"I like the acrobatics show and dancing as well. She likes the flying performance, the two performers spinning in the air," a viewer of an acrobatic show said.

A lion dance is featured as part of the Chinese New Year celebration in Sao Paulo, Brazil, January 13, 2019. /VCG Photo

In recent years, Chinese culture has been widely promoted overseas, especially during the Chinese New Year.

"We started performing in Brazil in 2000. Brazilians seem to be very keen on the traditional Chinese shows," said Wang Dan, a member of the Shenyang acrobatics team.

Sao Paulo Mayor Bruno Covas said the city's 200,000 Chinese contribute a lot to its culture and prosperity.

Apart from the celebration of the Chinese New Year in Brazil, there are a lot of celebrations from other countries all over the globe. Click the links below to read more about other Spring Festival celebrations:

Downing Street decorated for Chinese New Year celebration

New York museum launches 8-week Chinese New Year celebration

Chicago to kick off citywide Chinese New Year celebration

Why is Chinese New Year celebrated in the UK?

Celebrating Chinese New Year in Morocco

Three-day Chinese Spring Festival celebration in Red Sea resort, Egypt

Performance in Rwanda as part of 'Happy Chinese New Year Program'

Copyright © 

RELATED STORIES