Barcelona celebrates Chinese New Year with parade, performan

BARCELONA, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese community and citizens of Spain's Barcelona celebrated the Chinese New Year on Saturday with a colorful procession and performance.

More than 1,000 people participated in the celebrations, under the theme of "Celebrating Chinese New Year with Barcelona", organizers said.

The celebrations incorporated both Chinese and Catalan traditions -- lions, Chinese and Catalan dragons, martial arts, dances, music and Castellers (human towers).

Celebrating the Chinese New Year has become popular in many cities around the world. It is the most important and traditional festivity for the Chinese community globally.

"This is not only a Chinese festival of the Chinese community, but also a festival celebrated together with the city where the Chinese immigrants live," said Chang Shiru, Director of the Confucius Institute of Barcelona.

"It highlights the plurality and generosity of welcoming immigrants in Barcelona," Chang told Xinhua.

In Chang's view, it was very important to have celebrations together with Barcelona's citizens, since it fosters integration and understanding between different cultures that coexist in the same city.

This year's celebration was organized by the Chinese community in Catalonia with the backing of Barcelona City Council and the Chinese Consulate, and with the collaboration of Casa Asia and the Confucius Institute.