Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is the most important festivity for the Chinese people.It is also called the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year.
Every year has an animal’s name.These animals are the rat,ox,tiger,rabbit,dragon,snake,horse,ram,monkey,rooster,dog and pig.A Chinese legend says that these twelve animals had a race.The first year was named after the rat,the winner.The other eleven years were named after the order in which the animals arrived in the race.The clever rat jumped onto the ox’s back then at the end jumped over the ox’s head to arrive first!
The Chinese believe that a person born in a particular year has some of the characteristics of animal.
On Chinese New Year’s Eve all family members enjoy a big,delicious meal.It is very important for the Chinese to be with their families on this occasion.Fish is always part of the dinner because it represents abundance.
On New Year’s Day all Chinese children wear new clothes with bright colors.Red is considered a lucky color.Parents and relatives give children the traditional New Year’s gift called lucky money.This money is put into bright red and gold envelopes.Fill under the pillow.in the morning of new year ,the kid wakes up to see the “l(fā)ucky money”,express that oneself become one year older.Red is a traditional color for festivals,celebrations,weddings and birthdays.
The lion dancers are always part of the festivities.The lion has a big head and long body made of cloth.The lion dance is accompanied by drums,cymbals and noisy firecrackers.According to ancient traditions the great noise frightens away evil spirits.
The dragon is the most important figure of the Chinese New Year festivities and parades.The dragon is considered a lucky figure.A parade dragon can be 20 to 30 meters long!Sixty or more men move under a long cloth that represents the dragon’s tail.
During the parade children represent the animals of the Chinese calendar.There are also acrobats and musicians in beautiful costumes.
Happy New Year!