Upcoming Chinese 'Year of Goat' marked with joyful street celebrations in Rome

Dancers, singers, and acrobats from China performed before a large crowd in the historic heart of the Italian capital on Saturday to mark the upcoming Chinese New Year falling on Feb. 19.

The celebrations, organized by the Chinese Embassy in Italy with the patronage of the Italian ministry of Culture, represented one of the major events taking place in these days across the country to allow both Chinese resident communities and Italians to enjoy the 2015 Spring Festival.

The festivities in Rome kicked off with a traditional Chinese parade passing through the central Piazza Augusto Imperatore and Via del Corso to end up in the ancient Piazza del Popolo, where the main exhibition was due to take place.

The show drew thousands of people, who gathered since early afternoon to follow the performance of dozens of artists coming from the provinces of Hunan and Shaanxi.

Both traditional folk dances and music, and the most modern pieces of acrobatic arts were offered to spectators.

The artists presented short versions of several Chinese classical dances as they had been conceived in ancient China, such as the Rainbow and Feather Garment Dance or the White Linen Dance.

All performances were introduced in both Chinese and Italian languages, so that all people around were able to fully understand the cultural and symbolic meaning of what they were watching and enjoy it the most.

The large historic square of Rome provided overall a very lively and joyous picture during the event, with red decorations to symbolize prosperity hanging on the large stage, the colorful and elegant costumes of the artists, and most of the children among the audience also dressed up for the on-going Carnival.

The show was broadcasted by Rai Expo state television.

The celebrations to mark the Chinese "Year of the Goat" ended with a spectacular fireworks display from Pincio, or Pincian Hill, which oversees Rome's whole historic center. Endit