My OperaBrief Introduction to Chinese New Year
Tuesday, February 20, 2007 6:33:51 AM
(Recently, many people asked me about Chinese New Year, being curious. So, I decided to post a blog to make it clear. Hope you know more after my brief introduction.)
Chinese New Year is to Chinese people as Christmas Day is to Westerners.
Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.
It is the 1st day of the Chinese Lunar Calendar (according the moon, not the sun, and Jan.1 is the 1st Day in Solar Calendar.)
There is no fixed date of it. (It is on Feb.18 in 2007, and it will be on Feb.7 in 2008. It is totally determined by the lunar calendar.)
The celebration begins with the New Year's Eve (on Feb.17 this year), ends with the Lantern Festival, on the 15 th day of the first month in lunar calendar (on Mar.4 this year). That is to say, 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 (Feb.18 --- Mar.4 this year).
And this year is the Year of Pig.
（Chinese people use 12-year animal cycles to record the years. Each year is symbolized by an animal and the 12 animals are mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.）So, you will find out that 2008 will be the Year of Mouse.
Observances: gift-giving, family gatherings, food consumption, prayers, and so on.
(1) Days before the new year --- cleaning & decoration
On the days before the New Year celebration, we give our home a thorough cleaning. It is believed the cleaning sweeps away back luck and makes our homes ready for good luck to arrive. All brooms and dust pans are put away on New Year’s Eve so that good luck cannot be swept away. We also give our homes, doors and windowpanes a new coat of red paint.
(2) New Year’s Eve (Chuxi) --- Reunion dinner
Members of the family, near and far, get together for celebration, all wearing new clothes. The dinner is very large. People in north China serve dumplings as the main dish.
(3) 1st day of the new year (Chuyi) --- welcoming of the gods of the heavens and earth
It is also at this gathering that red envelopes (or red packet) are given by the grown-ups and seniors (usually married), to the children and unmarried juniors.
Some families will invite a Lion Dance troupe to their home as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Lunar New Year as well as to force-evict bad spirits out of the premises.
(4) 2nd day of the new year --- sons in laws to visit their parents-in-law
……
……
(5) 15th day of the new year --- Lantern Festival, or the Chinese Valentine’s Day (I will tell you more about this on Mar.4)
Others
(1) Firecrackers
The loud popping noise created by the explosion is thought to scare away evil spirits.
(2) Oranges & Tangerines & kumquats
(3) Incense (burned at the prayer ritual)
(4) New Year Cake (Niangao)
(5) Red decorations [/FONT]
(33%)
Unregistered user # Tuesday, February 20, 2007 9:39:13 AM
Leonardleoleo # Tuesday, February 20, 2007 11:03:38 AM
Happy Spring Festival to you.
But could you please tell us why the Year of Pig is also named the Year of Board? That is interesting.
(ps:the noodles tastes really good. ~_~)
Sonam MathuriaSonamMathuria # Tuesday, February 20, 2007 12:29:14 PM
What a great post:D
You told me more than what I had asked for...
This tells me a lot about the Chinese traditions...
and I'm pretty much impressed...
bye-Bye~~~~~~Sonam:hat:
And yes i have got a CSS for you ...
If you want I can provide you with the specifications to use it on your blog:up:And then your blog will be rocking too...
Leonardleoleo # Tuesday, February 20, 2007 1:10:36 PM
Just hope you and others know more about the festival.
In fact, even I learned something when I collected the information to write this post.
You should tell us something traditional in your country next time.
(ps: wow, a CSS for me? really? ok, I would love to have one. Thank you so much, Sonam. But I think you should teach me how to use it next time. ~_~)
Unregistered user # Tuesday, February 20, 2007 6:40:11 PM
Leonardleoleo # Wednesday, February 21, 2007 2:58:09 AM
I am glad that you like it.
Keep checking, you won't regret. lol
flying-butter # Wednesday, February 21, 2007 4:59:05 AM
I have read it in my blog.
What you just said is what i am thinking of.
Although we are not familiar with each other, i can feel your friendlyness...
My Mr.Pig is lovely, although he sometimes does not understand my heart.
maybe he can understand everything but just not to express it to me. what a fool~~~
best wishes for you , too.
Leonardleoleo # Wednesday, February 21, 2007 5:53:47 AM
Even sometimes they are, they won't express their own feelings directly.
So, more communicating and understanding is the most important.
"If conversation be the food of love, talk on~"
flying-butter # Wednesday, February 21, 2007 6:33:15 AM
just joking...
but i am short...呵呵
Leonardleoleo # Wednesday, February 21, 2007 7:50:23 AM
it is cute to be short.
At least, there is Mr.Pig still loves you, no matter you are tall or short. Just the saying goes, love me, love my dog.
I believe you are deep in the happiness of love, lol
Sonam MathuriaSonamMathuria # Wednesday, February 21, 2007 8:06:48 AM
Sonam MathuriaSonamMathuria # Wednesday, February 21, 2007 9:34:13 AM
Leonardleoleo # Wednesday, February 21, 2007 11:45:18 AM
Much simpler but clearer.
People feel comfortable when scanning your blog page.
You surely did a good job.
Blogging sometimes seems a big job, taking so much time.
Don't you have this kind of feeling?
I am afraid that I won't have much time staying here improving mine in the later.
And you too, don't forget that there are still exams around the corner.
lol. Well, I don't mean to make you nervous, just remind you of the time.
Anyway, take care of your time and keep working hard, ok?
Unregistered user # Thursday, February 22, 2007 1:27:04 AM
flying-butter # Thursday, February 22, 2007 4:29:07 AM
but i feel confused, for my future and my coming exam TEM-8...
Leonardleoleo # Thursday, February 22, 2007 5:59:36 AM
Then, I think I will have the same experience as you next year.
Well, there is no much time left, so, just relax and do your best.
We are here waiting for your good news, both in the TEM-8 & searching for the job.
Good luck to you.
flying-butter # Thursday, February 22, 2007 6:16:31 AM
I have no confidence in myself because i know that i have wasted a lot of time during the last 2 years...
Be strong...
flying-butter # Thursday, February 22, 2007 6:19:16 AM
if free, let's chat~
Sonam MathuriaSonamMathuria # Thursday, February 22, 2007 6:38:07 AM
Leonardleoleo # Thursday, February 22, 2007 8:01:55 AM
But I think we should not wasting time in regreting again.
Just do it from now on.
That is the meaningful thing.
flying-butter # Friday, February 23, 2007 4:29:57 AM
He said that he would bring Zhangjiang chicken back to Guangzhou for me..haha
flying-butter # Friday, February 23, 2007 6:49:45 AM
Sonam MathuriaSonamMathuria # Friday, February 23, 2007 8:18:56 AM
Leonardleoleo # Friday, February 23, 2007 11:04:15 AM
But I prefer a hot one, not that cold.
flying-butter # Friday, February 23, 2007 2:11:12 PM
flying-butter # Friday, February 23, 2007 2:13:51 PM