Spain Pavilion celebrates Spanish Day

People watch the play of colorful confetti in front of Spain Pavilion.

People participate in Spanish language Karaoke interactive activities.

Visitors follow the Instituto Cervantes students to write Spanish words with brushes.

Students from Instituto Cervantes paint and write in the Spanish language.

The Beijing branch of Instituto Cervantes celebrated the Second Spanish Language Day at Spain Pavilion yesterday.

Maria Tena, the Spanish Commissioner General to Expo 2010, and representatives from Spanish speaking countries attended the ceremony.

Seventy-three Instituto Cervantes branches in 42 countries staged more than 300 cultural events to celebrate the day around the world.

The institute picked the Spain Pavilion as the venue for celebration because the pavilion received near 2 million visitors in one and a half month, pavilion staff said.

The square in front of Spain Pavilion was renamed as Spanish Language Square today.

During the ceremony, the institute and the Spanish Society for International Exhibitions (SEEI) issued a guide of Shanghai in Spanish, which includes introductions of Expo 2010 and its pavilions.

Instituto Cervantes is a non-profitable organization set up by the Spanish government in 1991 to promote Spanish language and culture around globe. The Spanish Language Day started in 2009 and usually falls on the Saturday before every year's summer solstice (or winter solstice).