WARSAW, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- In Wroclaw, an urban hub in Poland, celebrations for the Chinese New Year, which fell on Feb. 16 this year, have become a new tradition, the same as in a few other European cities amid growing economic and cultural ties between China and Europe.
The National Museum in Wroclaw in cooperation with the Confucius Institute and the Polish-Chinese Association for Culture and Art prepared a program for participants of all ages.
The accompanying workshops focused on Chinese kites, calligraphy and painting on the fans, as well as kung fu and tai chi shows, tea ceremony and many others. The event was co-hosted by the Capital Museum of China. The two museums also communicated instantly via video connection.
It was not the first time for the Museum to organize this kind of events. "We've been here last year and we were sure to come back," a Wroclaw citizen said. "We want to welcome the Year of the Dog together with the Chinese people."
In the capital city of Warsaw, the National Ethnographic Museum also prepared workshops, meetings and demonstrations that allowed participants to feel the festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year celebrations.
Visitors could learn about the Chinese cultural communication, business culture, history, philosophy, the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China (paper making, gunpowder, printing technique, and compass), Peking opera and New Year's traditions such as Lion Dance. The accompanying event -- the Chinese market space -- provided an opportunity to purchase Chinese food, tea, medicines and China-themed books.
Many Warsaw citizens brought their children, who could enjoy workshops and games, such as painting lanterns, calligraphy, and folk art paper cutting.
"The kids are enjoying it a lot," one of the Polish mums said. " This is a lot of fun for them, but also let them get to know this fascinating, remote culture, so different from the Polish traditions."
"Such events help people to understand each other better, constitute a bridge between our cultures and nations," she said.
