Chinese New Year is a perhaps the most elaborate, colorful, and important holiday in China. Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday celebrated among Chinese people –
Koreans, Vietnamese, Mongolians, The Philippines, Thailands. Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade. New Year’s Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. Chinese New Year was on 18th February 2007. It will be the Year of the Pig. If you were born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 or 1995 – you were born under the sign of the pig. The Chinese believe a child born this year in The Year of the Golden Pig will be blessed with a carefree, wealthy and loving life!
The 15-Day Celebration of Chinese New Year
The
1st day- of the Lunar New Year is the welcoming of the gods of the heavens and earth.
The
2nd day- the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods. It is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs.
The
3th and 4 th days are for the sons-in-laws to pay respect to their parents-in-law.
On the
5-6th days the Chinese visit the temples to pray for good fortune and health.
The
7th day is considered the birthday of human beings. Noodles are eaten to promote longevity and raw fish for success. Everyone was considered one year older as of that date
On the
8th day the people have another family reunion dinner and at midnight they pray to the God of Heaven.
The
9th day is to make offerings to the Jade Emperor.
The
10th – 12th – days that friends and relatives should be invited for dinner.
On the
13th day you should have simple rice congee and mustard greens to cleanse the system.
The
14th day should be for preparations to celebrate the Lantern Festival.
On the
15th day – Chinese New Year ends with the Lantern festival. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. Traditionally the dragon is held aloft by young men who dance as they guide the colorful beast through the streets. The bobbing and weaving of the dragon was an impressive sight and formed a fitting finish to the New Year festival.
Every traditional Chinese household should also have live blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth. Flowers are believed to be symbolic of wealth and high positions in one’s career. Lucky is the home with a plant that blooms on New Year’s Day for that foretells a year of prosperity. In more elaborate settings, plum blossoms just starting to bloom are arranged with bamboo and pine sprigs. The grouping symbolizing the friends. The plum blossom also signifies reliability and perseverance. Chinese food–decorative and edible–is always a featured part of the festivities.
The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great community. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Although celebrations of the Chinese New Year vary, the underlying message is one of peace and happiness for family members and friends. Share the happy moments of this festive occasion as we bring together a complete range of Chinese New Year customs and traditions just for you.
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