The time has come to say goodbye to winter and let spring in. And what better way to do it than celebrating the arrival of the Chinese New Year in style. A few days of celebration to leave the Year of the Ox behind and welcome the Year of the Tiger as it deserves.
But don't worry, you don't have to travel the nearly 10,000 kilometers to Beijing. Just getting to Madrid is enough.
There is a program of cultural and festive activities Very attractive, 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 for welcoming the Year of the Tiger in Madrid
The Chinese year begins on February 1st. It is the first day of the year according to the Chinese lunar calendar and is a tradition that dates back more than 4,000 years.
The celebrations, however, begin earlier, in the last days of January. This is how the change of cycle is prepared to welcome the new season, which is why it is also known as Spring Festival
This year we will have to make the most of it because there is pent-up 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 like the party to be in the street much more, TRUE?
That's why this time (fingers crossed that the pandemic allows it) we are going to celebrate the arrival of the Tiger in style.
The first thing you need to know is that the activities are concentrated in the districts of Usera in first place, followed by Arganzuela and Moncloa-Aravaca, This is where the Chinese commSingley in Madrid has a significant presence; in fact, it's the foreign commSingley with the largest number of registered residents.
1. Festival of Light and Grand Multicultural Parade
For this, you have to go to the heart of Usera. These are the central events and the ones that will connect you most with the festival, because you'll feel immersed in some of the large Chinatowns that exist all over the planet.
During the days before, the neighborhood is boiling. Neighborhood participation from the Chinese commSingley is important. Neighborhood, cultural, and artistic associations collaborate. All kinds of activities are organized, including street performances, music, workshops, and crafts.
It's a good time to approach with the goal of connect with Chinese culture and learn a new skill. The culmination is the parade known as Great Multicultural Parade.
The festivities close with the Festival of Light, in Pradolongo Park. A fireworks finale. Light and sound to welcome the Year of the Tiger.
2. Traditional Chinese food
It's a great time to broaden your horizons and get a little closer to the authentic Chinese culinary tradition: A spectacular festival of flavors and ancient traditions that merge with cutting-edge cuisine.
Are you already craving more? Of course.That's what it's for Chinataste, a gastronomic festival held in February. To stay up to date with the show, you can follow the official Twitter or Instagram accounts, where you can get a glimpse of what was cooking (literally) last year.
This year, we hope it will be held again. the cooking competitionIn the previous edition, more than 80 people participated, including Spaniards and Chinese residents in Spain. They learned to cook three typical Chinese New Year dishes via YouTube, under the guidance of Mr. Jiang Hao, the Embassy's chef. If you enjoy cooking, here you have a good experience.
And if you want to sit down and eat right away, that's your time too. During the conferences More than a dozen Chinese restaurants participate, with authentic traditional dishes that are worth trying.
3. Calligraphy workshops
And more! They are organized by the Confucius Institute of Madrid to celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Tiger. for adults and for children, Places are limited and cost 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 searching your closet for clothing that pays homage to the country's incredible cultural richness.
There are so many options that it's impossible for me to choose just one, but if you want to look extra elegant, you can't go wrong with a quipao.
And of course, if you add a suitable piece of jewelry, you'll round out your look to make it perfect. Stick with large, statement earrings that are dangling and colorful. Like Wanda earrings, For example.
Did I leave out anything interesting? Do you know any? activity that should not be missed? I'd love for you to tell me which one and we'll add it to the calendar!