Chinese New Year is observed for two consecutive weeks,
and is popularly known as Spring Festival. It usually starts from late
January and early February. The variation in the date of festival is due
to the changes in the track of the new moon. The Spring Festival ends
on the 15th day when the Lantern festival is celebrated.
Chinese New Year 2012
In 2012, Chinese New Yearâ??s Day will be celebrated on
January 23. The New Year festival will start from January 22 (Chinese
New Year' Eve) and end on February 6 (Lantern Festival). 2012 marks the
4710th Chinese New Year, and this time it is the year of dragon
according to the Chinese zodiac calendar.
The dragon is the 5th sign of the Chinese zodiac and it
is regarded as an auspicious symbol which stands for power, good luck,
success, and happiness.
History of the New Year Celebration |
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Since ancient times, the Chinese New Year
was considered as the time to honor ancestors and heavenly deities. In
addition, it was the time to organize family gatherings and grand
feasts.
There is a legend associated with the
celebration of New Year in China. There was a monster named Nian who
used to harass the villagers by eating their crops, cattle and taking
away their kids. The villagers had no other option but to place food at
the entrance to their homes so that the monster would eat it and go away
without harming them.
One day, the villagers realized that the monster was
scared of red color. So, they adorned their doors and windows with red
paper cutouts and spring scrolls. The villagers also burst crackers to
frighten the monster. Since then, Nian never came again to the village.
Hongjun Laozu, a Taoist monk, was the one who captured the beast later
on. Since then, the Chinese have been celebrating the capture of Nian on
their New Year's Day.
There are other stories which say that the
Chinese have observed their New Year since the reign of the sage
emperors, Sun and Yao. The Western Zhou Dynasty observed New Year as the
time when they would begin their agricultural activities. This event
was also celebrated with ceremonial gatherings and fireworks by the Han
Dynasty. The Song Dynasty, too, observed this special occasion with
bamboo poles and fireworks.
Chinese New Year is celebrated with
fireworks, lion dancing, dragon dancing and cultural performances on the
street. Families organize reunion dinners on New Yearâ??s Eve and make
special preparations like spring rolls and Chinese dumplings. Offering
gifts of money is also a popular tradition followed during this
festival.
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