The picture shows people watching the Chinese New Year decoration of the zodiac "Rabbit" in a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Zhang Wen’s comprehensive photo (Xinhua News Agency)
The picture shows the theme tram of the Spring Festival in the Year of the Rabbit driving on the streets of Rome, Italy.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Jinma Mengni photo
On January 14th, at the issuing ceremony of the Year of the Rabbit Zodiac stamps held in Paris, France, stamp designer Chen Jianghong showed the commemorative stamps of the Year of the Rabbit Zodiac.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Gao Jingshe
The picture shows tourists shooting rabbit lanterns at Trafalgar Square in London, England.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Yingshe
2023 is the year of Guimao Rabbit in China lunar calendar. All over the world, the elements of the zodiac "rabbit" can be seen everywhere, and it has become a well-deserved "protagonist" in this year’s Spring Festival.
Zodiac culture is an important part of China traditional culture. In recent years, China Zodiac culture has gradually become a unique landscape of global multiculturalism, which is loved by more and more people of other ethnic groups in the world. This year’s Spring Festival, China’s "rabbits" spread all over the world, which is a vivid example of the wide spread of the zodiac culture in the world. In an interview with this reporter, several overseas Chinese believe that the Zodiac culture has become a spiritual bond linking the national identity of Chinese sons and daughters and an important bridge to promote the communication between Chinese and foreign people.
Zodiac elements are dazzling.
Zodiac stamps, square lanterns, street posters, shopping mall decorations, theater screens … … Around the Spring Festival in the Year of the Rabbit, the China zodiac "Rabbit" appeared in the eyes of people in many countries in the world with colorful artistic forms.
In Trafalgar Square, London, England, colorful rabbit lanterns and Nelson Memorial Column lit up "Happy New Year 2023" set each other off; At the entrance of the Lion King Theater in Madrid, Spain, the animated short film of the zodiac "Rabbit" is scrolled on the big screen, and the poster of the zodiac "Rabbit" is fluttering in the wind on the street not far away; In the pedestrian street in downtown Helsinki, Finland, the ice sculpture exhibition with rabbit as the theme element complements the flaming lanterns and lively lion dance performances … … Surrounded by a dazzling array of Chinese zodiac "rabbit" elements, not only overseas Chinese feel the strong "flavor of the year" of China in a foreign country, but also many foreign people are more curious about the traditional culture of China.
"In the middle and late January of this year, both the United Nations Postal Service and the United States Postal Service continued their tradition for many years and successively issued commemorative stamps for the China Lunar Year of the Rabbit." Referring to the "rabbit" element of the zodiac around him, Li Rong, vice president of the new york Association for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification and president of the Yunnan Business and Culture Association, said, "Almost everywhere! There are eye-catching rabbit decorations in major shopping malls, and there are rabbit shapes on the parade floats of carnival activities. Many Chinese and local residents dress up their children as rabbits, and some toy manufacturers produce a large number of rabbit plush toys that are widely welcomed by the market. Various kinds of Spring Festival celebrations have been organized in the Chinese Society of the Overseas Chinese Mission in the United States, and naturally there is also the zodiac ‘ Rabbit ’ 。”
Recently, a video about Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and overseas Chinese in Melbourne celebrating the Spring Festival became popular on social media. In the video, Albanese was invited to participate in the "2023 Shengshi Baima New Year Carnival" hosted by overseas Chinese in Melbourne. He sat in his seat and excitedly showed his red tie with rabbit patterns to the guests around him. "Prime Minister Albanese is a rabbit, so he likes his tie very much and will be happy with everyone ‘ Show off ’ Some time. " On the same day, Nanjing Jing, president of Australia Jingchuang Culture Media, also participated in the event and was deeply impressed by this scene: "It can be seen that the influence of Australian zodiac culture in China is not trivial."
For some time, a golden rabbit mascot "Year of the Rabbit" with a height of 5.3 meters, a width of 3.3 meters and a weight of 280 kilograms has attracted people’s attention in Jonker Street, the historical city of Malacca. Tian Loo Gan, vice president of Malaysian Chinese Public Relations Association, said that during the Spring Festival this year, Jonker Street continued the custom since 2012, that is, erect giant zodiac mascots outdoors on the street. This activity of erecting outdoor giant zodiac mascots has already become the "highlight" of Jonker Street in the Spring Festival every year, and it is also one of the punch-in spots for tourists to visit. In addition, local Chinese in Malaysia also integrate the elements of the Chinese zodiac into the dragon and lion dance culture every year. This year’s rabbit model is full of creativity and is deeply loved.
"This year, rabbit-shaped lanterns also appeared on the streets of Munich, Germany." Tang Zhihong, head of Huaxing Art Troupe in Munich, Germany, said that before and after the Spring Festival every year, the mainstream media in Germany would report and introduce China’s annual zodiac. Many Germans are very interested in China’s Zodiac culture, and they also know their birth year’s Zodiac.
Overseas, China Zodiac culture has brought creative inspiration to many Chinese artists.
Around the Spring Festival this year, Chinese Canadian artist Zhang Shufeng was extremely busy. In addition to finishing snow sculpture’s works in front of his own house, he was also invited by the Montreal municipal government to finish snow sculpture’s works in the municipal park. "Last October, the Montreal municipal government sent me a letter inviting me to be a snow sculpture in the municipal park during the Spring Festival, and the city councilor personally took me to the office to discuss the plan. My first thought is to be the snow sculpture Rabbit, because 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit in China. At that time, the municipal government also readily agreed to my proposal. " Finally, Zhang Shufeng made two big snow sculpture rabbits in the municipal park, and at the same time made a statue of snow sculpture mother and son rabbits at home. "After that, the Montreal Municipal Park held a carnival, which was unprecedented. The mayor personally came to congratulate him, and the mainstream media in Canada and online media reported on the event. Snow sculpture rabbit is especially ‘ Steal the mirror ’ 。” Zhang Shufeng said proudly.
The image of the zodiac is deeply loved.
This year is the third year that Zhang Shufeng has made snow sculpture’s works at home. In the past three years, no matter how other snow sculpture’s works change, snow sculpture’s works, which are worthy of the New Year’s Zodiac, will never be absent. "The zodiac is a treasure of China traditional culture. No matter where the descendants of the Chinese people go to the earth, they are always with them, which is an indelible mark. For overseas Chinese, the zodiac is also the bond and basis for tracing the source. In addition, animals are not only the objects that human beings love together, but also the artistic themes that different nationalities in the world like to see and hear, and it is also a bridge between different nationalities and multiculturalism. " Zhang Shufeng said.
"The rabbit image is closely related to the Easter culture in the West and is easily accepted." Tang Zhihong introduced: "In Germany, Easter has a traditional custom ‘ Painting eggs ’ And ‘ Looking for eggs ’ . These two games need parents and children to complete together. In children’s fairy tales, eggs are born by lively rabbits, because rabbits can give birth to bunnies and are a symbol of vigorous vitality. "
"In the United States, China’s zodiac culture is deeply rooted in people’s hearts. The popularity of zodiac knowledge is high. " Li Rong said that many Americans’ understanding of the Lunar New Year in China began with the zodiac. Some Americans affectionately refer to the China Zodiac as the "China constellation". Whenever overseas Chinese celebrate the Spring Festival, some Americans will curiously ask questions related to the "China constellation", and many locals will also take the initiative to search for their birth year’s zodiac on the Internet.
"Zodiac culture still has great influence in Malaysia, especially in the Chinese community. Basically, every Chinese born and raised in Malaysia knows something about the zodiac culture and knows his own animal sign. " Tian Loo Gan said, in my daily life, I like to introduce the activities, works and decorations related to the Lunar New Year’s Zodiac to the Chinese new generation, including the album of New Year’s greetings with the elements of the Zodiac, so as to make them interested in the Zodiac culture and further understand the significance of the Zodiac culture.
Zodiac culture connects China and foreign countries
From the obvious increase in the number of people visiting snow sculpture’s works to being invited to the school to give a demonstration of snow sculpture’s production, Zhang Shufeng really felt: "Canadian locals have more understanding and interest in China’s traditional culture, including the zodiac culture." "This year, when a local mainstream TV station came to interview, a reporter’s assistant wore a red hat and told me that she was a rabbit as soon as she came up; In the municipal park, a tall local youth, wearing a red down jacket, deliberately showed me the color of his clothes and excitedly said that he was a rabbit. " In addition to the popularity of the Zodiac culture in the local area, Zhang Shufeng was delighted to find that the atmosphere of celebrating the New Year overseas has also changed: "Local artists brought China ‘ Fu ’ Word gift to pay a New Year call and ask me how to use China dialect ‘ Happy New Year ’ . When I walk in the street, my local neighbors will say ‘ Happy Chinese New Year’ 。”
"Since living in Germany, in the process of accompanying my children to grow up, I will not only explain the story behind the zodiac to the children, but also introduce the zodiac culture to local friends in Germany." Tang Zhihong said that there is a story full of China’s wisdom behind each of the 12 Zodiacs, and many good wishes and hopes have been placed on it. The zodiac animals are all animal images, which are very friendly and easily accepted and loved by foreign friends. They are excellent carriers for spreading Chinese culture.
"The zodiac is a cultural bridge to promote the communication between Chinese and foreign people." Li Rong said that on the one hand, all ethnic groups in the world have a sense of closeness to animals and are willing to understand the story behind the zodiac; On the other hand, the mysterious astrology culture behind the zodiac is similar to the western astrology, which is easy to stimulate people’s interest in understanding. "In the past, we introduced China Zodiac culture to overseas friends through traditional ways such as singing and dancing and storytelling. In the future, in addition to following these methods, we can also attract more young people’s attention and expand the communication and influence of the zodiac culture through innovative means such as social media and digitalization. "
"Zodiac culture contains profound essence of Chinese culture. With animals as the main carrier, the zodiac culture is approachable, which can make it easier for people of different ethnic groups in the world to cross cultural barriers, and then appreciate the charm of Chinese culture and promote the communication between Chinese and foreign people. " Tian Loo Gan said that in the future, overseas Chinese in should continue to spread the China Zodiac culture with the Spring Festival as the main carrier. In addition, more Chinese zodiac elements can be added to the festive decoration and solar terms activities of overseas Chinese in Malaysia.
"The zodiac culture is easy to understand and has a strong recognition. Promoting the zodiac culture can open a window for the new generation of Chinese and other ethnic groups overseas to understand Chinese culture. " Nanjing Jing said, first of all, let the zodiac become a common and daily social topic like a constellation; Secondly, fully tap the market potential of the zodiac culture, innovate the peripheral derivatives of the zodiac culture, and integrate the zodiac culture into all walks of life such as fashion, food and internet.