It's time to say goodbye to winter and let spring in. And what better way to do it than by celebrating the Chinese New Year in style. A few days of festivities to leave the Year of the Ox behind and receive the Year of the Tiger as it deserves.
But don't worry, you don't have to travel the almost 10,000 kilometers to Beijing. With you coming to Madrid is enough.
There is a very attractive program of cultural and festive activities , with options to choose from depending on what you most want to do. So if you have a few days, take advantage and immerse yourself in one of the most colorful celebrations in the capital.
Shall we take a look at the program?
3 + 1 suggestions to receive the Year of the Tiger in Madrid
The Chinese year begins on February 1. It is the first day of the year according to the Chinese lunar calendar and it is a tradition that is more than 4000 years old.
The celebrations, however, start earlier, the last days of January. This is how the cycle change is being prepared to welcome the new season, which is why it is also known as the Spring Festival
This year we will have to make the most of it because there is an accumulated desire. In 2021 only virtual celebrations were organized due to covid. Global streaming connections were made to follow the events and the programming was very interesting... but it's not the same. We much prefer that the party is in the street, right?
That's why this time (I cross my fingers that the pandemic allows us) we are going to celebrate the arrival of the Tiger in style.
The first thing you have to know is that the activities are concentrated in the Usera districts in the first place, followed by Arganzuela and Moncloa-Aravaca, which is where the Chinese community in Madrid has an important presence; in fact, it is the foreign community with the most registered people.
1. Festival of Light and Great Multicultural Parade
For this you have to go to the heart of Usera. They are the central events and the ones that will connect you the most with the party, because you will feel that you are immersed in one of the great Chinatowns that are all over the planet.
During the previous days, the neighborhood boils. The neighborhood participation of the Chinese community is important. Neighborhood, cultural and artistic associations collaborate with each other. Activities of all kinds are organized, such as street performances, music, workshops, crafts.
It's a good time to get closer with the goal of connecting with Chinese culture and learning a new skill. The climax is the parade known as the Great Multicultural Parade.
The festivities close with the Festival of Light, in the Pradolongo park. A finale of fireworks. Light and sound to welcome the Year of the Tiger.
2. Traditional Chinese food
It is a great time to broaden your vision and get a little closer to the authentic Chinese culinary tradition: a spectacular festival of flavors, and ancient traditions that blend with the latest generation cuisine.
Are you already wanting more? Well of course. That's what Chinataste is for , a gastronomic festival that takes place in February. To stay up to date with the programme, you can follow the official Twitter or Instagram account, where you can take a look at what was cooked (literally) last year.
This year, we hope that the cooking contest will be held again . In the previous edition, more than 80 people participated, including Spaniards and Chinese residing in Spain. They learned to cook three typical Chinese New Year dishes via YouTube, under the orders of Mr. Jiang Hao, chef of the Embassy. If you like to cook, here you have a good experience.
And if what you want is to sit down directly to eat, it is also your moment. More than a dozen Chinese restaurants participate in the sessions , with authentic traditional dishes that are worth trying.
3. Calligraphy workshops
And other things! They are organized by the Confucius Institute in Madrid to celebrate the entry into the Year of the Tiger. There are ones for adults and children, places are limited and they are priced at 10 euros.
I leave the topics here, but I recommend you consult the Confucius Institute website for more information:
Create your Chinese-inspired look
Pay your respects to the Land of the Rising Sun by digging through your closet for clothes that pay homage to the country's incredibly rich culture.
There are so many options that it is impossible for me to choose just one, but if you want to go extra elegant, you can't go wrong with a quipao.
And of course, if you add a suitable jewel, you round off your look so that it is perfect. Stick with large earrings that stand out, pendants and with color. Like the Wanda earrings, for example.
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