1. Background

Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, peculiar to China, is a reflection of the Chinese pursuit of harmonizing human relationships with human, nature and society. Today, it has gradually turned into a bridge to connect Chinese and foreign people, spiritually and emotionally.

The Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage was passed by UNESCO in 2003, and social practice, rituals and festival activities were listed as one of the major categories of intangible cultural heritage. To further protect the culture of Spring Festival, carry forward the spirit of the 2013 Convention and set up a platform for international exchanges and cooperation, the International Training Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Asian-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (CRIHAP) held the 2014 Workshop on Happy Chinese New Year and Modern Inheritance of Traditional Festivals in Shanghai and Suzhou from Oct. 16-24.

The workshop featured different activities like seminars, special lectures, case studies, and field study. With “Spring Festival” as its core theme, it will probe into the functions of Spring Festival and share the experience of Spring Festival celebrations in different countries.

The workshop will help participants deepen their understanding of Spring Festival customs and traditional Chinese cultural values, promote mutual respect of different cultures and play a positive role in protecting cultural heritage and facilitating cultural diversity.

2. Host

International Training Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Asian-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (CRIHAP)

3. Time (9 days)

Oct 16-24, 2014.

4. Location

Shanghai, Suzhou in Jiangsu province.

5. Participants

(1) Chinese experts (6 people).

(2) Foreign representatives from 28 first-batch cities to hold key activities of “Happy Chinese New Year” (30 people).

6. Activities

Seminars, special lectures, case studies, and field study.

7. Contents (made up of four sections)

1st section: Spring Festival and Chinese Traditional Culture

Lecturer: Chinese experts

2nd section: Experience exchanges of “Happy Chinese New Year” activities in foreign countries

Lecturer: Foreign representatives

3rd section: Rethinking Spring Festival culture and the prospect of holding “Happy Chinese New Year” activities

Lecturer: Foreign representatives

4th section: Cultural visits and field trips to intangible cultural heritage items.