One World,One Family.docVIP

PAGE  PAGE 5 One World,One Family 　　“Amid the crackle of firecrackers， another year comes to an end and the warm breath of spring enters every home.” 　　This well-known verse by Wang Anshi， one of the great poets of the Northern Song Dynasty （960-1127）， depicts a typical scene during the Spring Festival （Chinese New Year）. The festival， which has been celebrated for over 4，000 years， fell on January 28 this year. For 15 days， starting on Spring Festival Eve， every household across the country observed it by writing couplets on red paper， having big family dinners， and visiting friends and relatives. 　　Different cultural events are held during the holiday season， such as Peking Opera shows， dragon and lion dances， traditional stand-up comedy， and acrobatic performances. These enrich the cultural life of the people while renewing the important Chinese traditions of family reunion， communion with nature and the replenishment that comes from new beginnings. They also signify the philosophy that Chinese people have always traditionally embraced. 　　After decades of opening up and progress， China is now beginning to share its development achievements with the rest of the world. China’s progress and mutually beneficial， win-win approach have been embraced by the international community. Spring Festival， the quintessential symbol of Chinese culture， is now celebrated in many countries around the world. 　　Former French President Jacques Chirac， who has a vast knowledge of China， used the word “we” in his remarks on Chinese New Year celebrations， so expressing a cultural identity which includes Chinese social-cultural practices. He is not the only one. Today， state leaders in the U.S.， U.K.， and Australia， among many others， send best wishes to local Chinese neighborhoods at Spring Festival. These communities often give colorful and vibrant performances featuring players who have traveled all the way from China. Growing numbers of local residents in these countries