Chinese New Year is the largest and most important celebration in the Chinese Calender. This year the Chinese New Year begins on February 18, 2007. The Chinese use the lunar calender, with each month starting on the darkest day or new moon. It is tradition for New Year festivities to start on the first day of the month and carry on until the 15th day when the moon is full or brightest.
The fifteen day celebration of the Chinese New Year:
On the first day they welcome the Gods of the Heavens and Earth. Many abstain from eating meat as they believe it will ensure long and happy lives.
On the second day they pray to ancestors and gods, they feed and treat their dogs well as they believe this is the birthday of all dogs.
On the third and fourth days son in laws pay respect to their parent in laws.
On the fifth day people stay at home and welcome the God of Wealth. No visiting takes place as it will bring bad luck.
On the sixth to tenth day visiting of relatives and friends is done freely. Temples are visited and prayers are said for good fortune and health.
On the seventh day farmers make a drink from seven vegetables to celebrate their produce. This is also considered the birthday of all human beings. They eat noodles to promote longevity and eat raw fish for success.
On the eighth day there are more family dinners and prayers to Tian Gong, the god of Heaven.
On the ninth day offerings are made to the Jade Emperor.
On the tenth to twelveth day friends and relatives come for dinner.
On the thirteenth day, after much feasting, to cleanse the system simple rice congee and mustard greens are eaten.
The fourteenth day is used in preparation to celebrate the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth night.
For weeks prior to the New Year people will take time off work to decorate and prepare for the celebration of the New Year.
Legend has it that Buddha asked all the animals to join him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came and he named a year after each. The twelve animals include, the rat, the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the sheep, the monkey, the rooster, the dog and the pig.
He stated that people born in that year would resemble the animals personality. People born in the year of the Pig work very hard, have excellent manners, are loyal friends and enjoy luxuries.
For Chinese New Year festivities people wear red clothes, decorate their homes with poems written on red paper, and give "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red is said to symbolize fire, according to legend it drives away bad luck. Fireworks help ward away evil spirits.
Live blooming plants represent rebirth and new growth.
In China, the Chinese New Year is a time when families travel back home to be with their loved ones, they gather at each others houses for visits and to share meals, especially the feast on New Years Eve. New Years Eve and New Years Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving.
On New Years Day the Chinese family will eat a vegetarian dish called Jai, whole fish to represent togetherness and abundance and a chicken for prosperity. The chicken must be intact with its head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness. Any noodles should not be cut as they represent long life. Nian Gao(sweet steamed glutinous rice pudding) and Zong Zi(glutinous rice wrapped in reed leaves) are favorites in the South of China while steamed wheat bread(Man Tou) and small meat dumplings are the prefered food in the North.
The Lantern Festival occures on the 15th day to signify the end of Chinese New Year. The lanterns are painted with birds, flowers, animals, zodiac signs as well as scenes depictings legends and history. These lanterns are hung in temples and carried in the streets under the brightness of the full moon on the 15th night.
Often the highlight of the Lantern Festival is the Dragon dance. The dragon is usually made of silk, paper and bamboo and is held above the heads of men as they dance and guide this colourful dragon through the streets.
