Kung Hei Fat Choi everyone. It is the eve of the Chinese New Year. Here are some facts about the Chinese New Year.
Happy New Year! The festival which is celebrated globally is the welcome of new beginning. Chinese New Year is one of the very famous celebrations which is little different from the western one. Explore in detail about this beautiful event which marks the various tradition, decoration ideas and family gatherings in China.
Celebrations of Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year is based on the lunisolar movements. It is also known as the lunar calendar. The celebrations of this much awaited festival start on the new moon day. The festival is observed for fifteen days and each day signifies one unique Chinese tradition. There are many customary beliefs associated with this festival.
People start with preparations long before the arrival of New Year. The houses and shops are cleaned to remove all the waste from the living areas. All the curtains and bed spreads are washed; sometimes people also go for new ones. It is believed that cleaning of house would wade off the evil spirits.
The houses are painted red and red colored window dressings are used. It is believed that red color scares the bad evils from entering the house. People also hang red colored couplets on the walls and door that reads many luck and wish messages. “Fu” is the word which is written on paper cutting and hung in all the corners of the shops and stores. The Chinese word ‘fu’ means luck. It is one of the very popular Chinese New Year customs to welcome the good luck and fortune in the New Year.
The Chinese New Year reunion dinner is the most important part of the celebrations. Special dishes are prepared by all the family members to enjoy the mouth watering cuisines on the New Year Eve. The feast starts with offering of this meal and incense sticks to the ancestors. It is considered very auspicious to pay homage to the dead souls who bless longevity to the family members.
The eldest male family member is visited by the younger ones during the fifteen days of celebrations. Children receive gifts from the adults and are also blessed with good health and fortune. The elders read messages and poems that marks the various virtues associated with the New Year.
On the fifteenth day red colored lanterns are decorated on the streets and homes. This is popularly known as, Lantern festival. Chinese people are very creative and they prepare these paper and fabric lanterns at home. It is not only hung in house and stores but, is also exchanged with families as New Year gift.
Some of the very popular Chinese New Year gifts are gold coins, red envelopes, message couplets, red lanterns, traditional Chinese costumes, sweets and figurines. During the celebration time people share favors and gifts with each other. It is also considered very auspicious to make handmade presents to all the near and dear ones.
Fireworks are the major attractions to announce the New Year. Chinese believe in celebrating this festival not just by welcoming the new beginning but, by bidding farewell to the year passing by. For this firecrackers are lit to celebrate the New Year.
