TIF-Helexpo to Celebrate Chinese New Year in Thessaloniki

Greece’s national exhibition body TIF-Helexpo will celebrate the Chinese New Year on Saturday, February 11, in the center of Thessaloniki. The celebration will kick off a series of events that will be held to highlight the ties between Greece and China. The events will lead up to the 82nd Thessaloniki International Trade Fair (TIF) in which China will be the honored country. The 82nd TIF will run September 9-17.

The Chinese New Year events will kick off at 10am on Saturday at the south gate of the Thessaloniki Exhibition Center with a show that will include a parade of Chinese dragons, a Kung-Fu demonstration and a display of Chinese customs.

The program will include the national anthems of Greece and China, performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Thessaloniki and the hoisting of the Greek and Chinese flags as a symbol of cooperation.

After the opening ceremony, the celebration will move to Esopos Street — Thessaloniki’s “China Town” — and visitors will have the opportunity to sample Chinese cuisine and participate in an authentic Chinese New Year celebration.

The event will come to an end at 4pm at Aristotelous Square with a parade of Chinese dragons, a kung-fu demonstration and lots of music.

Chinese New Year

An anticipated global event on China’s calendar, the Chinese New Year celebration launched for 2017 on January 28, celebrating the start of the new lunar year. It starts on the second new moon after the winter solstice and officially ends 15 days later on the full moon.

This Chinese New Year marks the start of the year of the Rooster, defined by the Chinese zodiac cycle. Each year has an animal sign related to it, and is associated with one of five elements: gold, wood, water, fire and earth.