Kung Hei Fat Choi!
Today marks the start of the Chinese New Year, which is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. The celebration is based on the lunar calendar, so that the first day of the lunar year marks the Chinese New Year. Therefore, the event falls between late January to early February. The celebration begins on the eve of the lunar New Year and continues on until the fifth day of the lunar calendar's first month. The 15th day ends with the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the celebrations.
Many Chinese people decorate their houses with lights and lanterns. It is also the tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in the hope this brings good luck for the coming year. Windows and doors will be decorated with red coloured paper and couplets with popular themes of good fortune, luck and happiness. On the Eve of Chinese New Year, many families gather for a feast.
People will eat foods like pigs, ducks, chicken and lots of sweet things. The family will end the night by letting off firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and wish peace and happiness for everyone.
The Chinese New Year also features lots of music, dance and performances, most famously that of the dragon and the lion dance, which weaves its way through the streets of many towns and cities.
2012 is known as the year of the Dragon. The Chinese have a 12 year cycle of animals which is related to the Chinese calendar itself. The dragon is the only animal of the 12 that is not real, and is the most powerful and auspicious; said to bring prosperity, good fortune, hope and optimism.
So if you’re celebration Chinese New Year, may yours be full of luck, good fortune and happiness!
Xin Nien Kwai Le!
Images: earthsky.org & ibtimes.com
