Chinese New Year: Difference between revisions
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'''Chinese new year''' is the largest celebration in Chinese culture. It more than just one day. In fact it is a period of 15 days — beginning with the new moon on the first day of the Chinese calendar and finishing with the full moon of the same month. The Chinese calendar is a mix of [[Lunar calendar|lunar]] and [[solar calendars]], so like the date of [[Easter]] in the West, the date of the Chinese new year varies (for example, 7-22 February in 2008). | '''Chinese new year''' is the largest celebration in Chinese culture. It more than just one day. In fact it is a period of 15 days — beginning with the new moon on the first day of the Chinese calendar and finishing with the full moon of the same month. The Chinese calendar is a mix of [[Lunar calendar|lunar]] and [[solar calendars]], so like the date of [[Easter]] in the West, the date of the Chinese new year varies (for example, 7-22 February in 2008). | ||
The day before new year, | The day before new year, ''chúxī'', 除夕, it is customary for the family to gather at the grandparents' house, the grandfather being the head of the household. The house must be cleaned and decorated. The family will have two meals together on this day, one in the early afternoon, the other beginning at the stroke of midnight. The later meal usually consists of Chinese dumplings (Jiaozi). Prior to the meals, large numbers of firecrackers are set off. It is believed that the spirits are scared away by the loud noise. Banners promoting good fortune and health are placed around the doors of houses. The word ''fu'', 福, is put on the door and windows: the word is said to bring good luck to the house. It is common for it to be put upside down on some doors. Fish also play an important role in the decorations as the word for fish is similar in pronunciation to another word for 'enough' or 'plenty'. At midnight, the doors and windows of the house will be opened to allow the old year to escape and the new year to come in. The family will all sleep in the grandparents' home on this night. | ||
On new years day, no cleaning should be done. This would sweep the good fortune out of the house. The day after, the floors may be swept but the dust is not removed form the house for a further 5 days. No knives or scissors should be used on new years day as they would cut good fortune. Also you should not wash your hair on this day. Many people will not eat meat on this day either as abstaining will prolong their life. Throughout new year, honour must be paid to the ancestors. Either on this day or the second day of the new year, prayers are made to the gods to satisfy the ancestors. The third and fourth days of the new year, a husband will take the family to pay respects to his wife's parents. | On new years day, no cleaning should be done. This would sweep the good fortune out of the house. The day after, the floors may be swept but the dust is not removed form the house for a further 5 days. No knives or scissors should be used on new years day as they would cut good fortune. Also you should not wash your hair on this day. Many people will not eat meat on this day either as abstaining will prolong their life. Throughout new year, honour must be paid to the ancestors. Either on this day or the second day of the new year, prayers are made to the gods to satisfy the ancestors. The third and fourth days of the new year, a husband will take the family to pay respects to his wife's parents. | ||
Revision as of 17:01, 6 February 2008
Chinese new year is the largest celebration in Chinese culture. It more than just one day. In fact it is a period of 15 days — beginning with the new moon on the first day of the Chinese calendar and finishing with the full moon of the same month. The Chinese calendar is a mix of lunar and solar calendars, so like the date of Easter in the West, the date of the Chinese new year varies (for example, 7-22 February in 2008).
The day before new year, chúxī, 除夕, it is customary for the family to gather at the grandparents' house, the grandfather being the head of the household. The house must be cleaned and decorated. The family will have two meals together on this day, one in the early afternoon, the other beginning at the stroke of midnight. The later meal usually consists of Chinese dumplings (Jiaozi). Prior to the meals, large numbers of firecrackers are set off. It is believed that the spirits are scared away by the loud noise. Banners promoting good fortune and health are placed around the doors of houses. The word fu, 福, is put on the door and windows: the word is said to bring good luck to the house. It is common for it to be put upside down on some doors. Fish also play an important role in the decorations as the word for fish is similar in pronunciation to another word for 'enough' or 'plenty'. At midnight, the doors and windows of the house will be opened to allow the old year to escape and the new year to come in. The family will all sleep in the grandparents' home on this night.
On new years day, no cleaning should be done. This would sweep the good fortune out of the house. The day after, the floors may be swept but the dust is not removed form the house for a further 5 days. No knives or scissors should be used on new years day as they would cut good fortune. Also you should not wash your hair on this day. Many people will not eat meat on this day either as abstaining will prolong their life. Throughout new year, honour must be paid to the ancestors. Either on this day or the second day of the new year, prayers are made to the gods to satisfy the ancestors. The third and fourth days of the new year, a husband will take the family to pay respects to his wife's parents.
The new year celebrations end with the Lantern festival at the full moon time. Again large numbers of firecrackers are set off to drive out the bad spirits of the old year and bring good fortune to the new year.
The Chinese years are named after animals from the Chinese zodiac. Like the western zodiac, there are 12 signs. These are in order: mouse (rat), ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The year 2007 was the year of the pig. Now 2008 is the mouse and 2009 will be the ox.