The Chese New Year（一）

The chinese new year of 2009 is at the 26 of Jan 2009 according to the lunar calendar, it is the year of OX. My last time celebrate the new year with my family in China is nearly 6 years ago, I miss it so much.

Even because of the education systems changed in C.I.T that we might have about month holiday in Jan, but for some reason that I still can not go to China for holiday in next Jan. I decided to write interesting thing about the Chinese year, for my homesickness and also for the people who are interested in the Chinese culture.

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival (pronounced “Chūn Jié” in Mandarin) or the Lunar New Year, is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays as well the important holiday in East Asia. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th, this day is called the Lantern festival.

Chinese New Year's Eve (pronounced as “Chú Xī”). “Chu” literally means change and “Xi” means Eve.

Celebrated in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had a strong influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction. These include Koreans, Mongolians, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Vietnamese, and formerly the Janpanese before 1873. In Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and other countries with significant Chinese populations, Chinese New Year is also celebrated, largely by overseas Chinese, but it is not part of the traditional culture of these countries. In Canada, although Chinese New Year is not an official holiday, many ethnic Chinese hold large celebrations and Canada Post issues New Year's themed stamps in domestic and international rates.

Mythologies

According to legend, in ancient China , the “Nián” was a man-eating beast from the mountains which came out every 12 months somewhere close to winter to prey on humans. The people later believed that the “Nian” was sensitive to loud noises and the color red, so they scared it away with explosions, fireworks and the liberal use of the color red. These customs led to the first New Year celebrations. “Guò nián”, which means to celebrate the New Year, literally means the passover of the “Nian”.

Key Words in Spring Festival

Red Packets

Traditionally, Red envelopes or red packets are passed out during the Chinese New Year's celebrations, from married couples or the elderly to unmarried juniors. It is common for adults to give red packets to children. Red envelopes always contain money, usually varying from a couple of dollars to several hundred. The amount of money in the red packets should be of even numbers, as odd numbers are associated with cash given during funerals. Since the number 4 is considered bad luck, because the word for four is a homophone for death, money in the red envelopes never adds up to ￥4. However, the number 8 is considered lucky (for its homophone for "wealth"), and ￥8 is commonly found in the red envelopes. Sometimes chocolate coins are found in the red packets. A married person would not turn down such request for red packet as it would mean that he or she would be "out of luck" in the new year.

Fireworks

Bamboo stems filled with gunpowder that were burnt to create small explosions were once used in ancient China to drive away evil spirits. In modern times, this method has eventually evolved into the use of firecrachers during the festive season. Firecrackers are usually strung on a long fused string so it can be hung down. Each firecracker is rolled up in red papers, as red is auspicious, with gunpowder in its core. Once ignited, the firecracker lets out a loud popping noise and as they are usually strung together by the hundreds, the firecrackers are known for its deafening explosions that it is thought to scare away evil spirits. The lighting of firecrackers also signifies a joyous occasion and has become an integral aspect of Chinese New Year celebrations.

The Chinese New Year (part 2)