Chinese New Year

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Chinese New Year

according to the lunar calendar.
The holiday

is celebrated with big family gatherings, gift giving, the eating of symbolic foods and celebrating the coming of Spring.

(dumplings), because the word jiao zi is similar to the

ancient word for new replacing the old.
Jiao zi symbolize wealth in the new year.

based on the Earth's movement around the sun and has

a fixed number of 365 days a year (366 during a leap year).

In China the lunar calendar is used to determine traditional holidays like Chinese New Year.  It is based on the phases of the moon - which has a shorter cycle than the sun and falls somewhere between January 21st and February 20th.

beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against

a mythical beast called the Nien. Nien came on the first day of New Year to eat livestock, crops, and even villagers. To protect themselves, the villagers put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. The Nien was afraid of the red colour. So people began to hang red lanterns on windows and doors.

most important festivity in the Chinese Lunar Calendar.
Nowadays most families

celebrate the New Year for about two week's time, starting on the first day of the new year and end on the 15th.
Everybody still follows all the customs that their elders have taught them.

The First day
It is

a time when families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended family, usually their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents.

birth parents. Traditionally, daughters who have been married may not

have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently.

On that day the Chinese pray to their gods. They are very kind to all dogs and feed them well as it is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs.

translated as "red mouth".  It is generally accepted that it

is not a good day to socialize or visit your relatives and friends.

of wealth Guan Yu. It is also common in China

that on the 5th day people will shoot off firecrackers ensuring his favor and good fortune for the new year.

the day when everyone grows one year older. People get

together to toss the colourful salad and make wishes for continued wealth and prosperity.

Emperor. However, everybody should be back to work by the

8th day. All of government agencies and business will stop celebrating by the eighth day.

Emperor. Incense, tea, fruit, vegetarian food or roast pig, and

paper gold is served for paying respect to an honored person.

is celebrated.

as the Chinese God of War. Guan Yu was born

in the Han dynasty and is considered the greatest general in Chinese history. He represents loyalty, strength, truth, and justice.

Festival (Yuanxiao) which is on the night of the first

full moon. On this day families walk along the street carrying lighted lanterns, play riddle games and eat sticky rice balls. This day often marks the end of the Chinese New Year holiday period.

The fifteenth day

is a year of Rabbit. A rabbit is a

very nice animal and so this year it will bring you positive changes, success, happiness
and good luck!

When is Chinese New Year 2011?