The Origin of the lunar New Year Festival can be traced back thousands The Origin of the lunar New Year Festival can be traced back thousands years, involving a series of colorful legends and traditions. One of the famous years, involving a series of colorful legends and traditions. One of the famous legend is Nian, an extremely cruel and ferocious beast that the ancients legend is Nian, an extremely cruel and ferocious beast that the ancients believed would devour people on New Year’s Eve. The phrase “Guo4 Nian2” believed would devour people on New Year’s Eve. The phrase “Guo4 Nian2” means both to survive the “Nian2” and to celebrate the New Year festival.means both to survive the “Nian2” and to celebrate the New Year festival.

Q: What is Chinese New Year also called?Q: What is Chinese New Year also called?

A: Chinese new year is also called the A: Chinese new year is also called the Spring Festival. Spring Festival.

春節春節

Q: What is the favorite color for Q: What is the favorite color for

Chinese and Chinese New Year?Chinese and Chinese New Year?

A: Red ColorA: Red Color

Q: What day is the first day of 2010 Q: What day is the first day of 2010

according to Chinese lunar calendar?according to Chinese lunar calendar?

A: Chinese New Year is based on Lunar Calendar, A: Chinese New Year is based on Lunar Calendar, which uses the moon instead of the sun to count which uses the moon instead of the sun to count the months. This year 2010, first day of Chinese the months. This year 2010, first day of Chinese New year is 2/14, the same day as Valentine’s Day! New year is 2/14, the same day as Valentine’s Day!

A: How long is Chinese New Year A: How long is Chinese New Year

Celebration?Celebration?Q: Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first Q: Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.and children carrying lanterns in a parade...

All sharp tools (knives, etc). are hidden All sharp tools (knives, etc). are hidden away since they may sever good fortune away since they may sever good fortune from the family. from the family.

No foul language or unlucky words No foul language or unlucky words because it will bring bad luck to the because it will bring bad luck to the family. family.

Handle fragile item with care. If anything Handle fragile item with care. If anything breaks, the family will break up or have breaks, the family will break up or have seven years of bad luck. seven years of bad luck.

Usually the preparation Usually the preparation starts a month before the starts a month before the new year. The preparation new year. The preparation includes thoroughly includes thoroughly cleaning and decorating cleaning and decorating the house, buying new the house, buying new clothes, and preparing clothes, and preparing enough food.enough food.

Instead of presents as in the West, the Instead of presents as in the West, the Chinese give gifts of money at Chinese New Chinese give gifts of money at Chinese New Year, at weddings and birthdays. The money Year, at weddings and birthdays. The money is usually placed in a red packet/envelope is usually placed in a red packet/envelope decorated with an appropriate symbol, decorated with an appropriate symbol, greeting or lucky sign.greeting or lucky sign.

Firecrackers are set off as soon as the Firecrackers are set off as soon as the new year arrives. You can hear or see new year arrives. You can hear or see firecrackers everywhere and this usually firecrackers everywhere and this usually lasts for a few hours. Traditionally lasts for a few hours. Traditionally fireworks are the sign of getting rid of the fireworks are the sign of getting rid of the old and welcoming the new. old and welcoming the new.

The dragon dance is an important festive The dragon dance is an important festive tradition in China. It was originally tradition in China. It was originally performed to please the dragon, who is the performed to please the dragon, who is the deity of water, to ask for rain during deity of water, to ask for rain during drought years. Gradually it became an drought years. Gradually it became an entertainment and dance form in festive entertainment and dance form in festive occasions, usually during the Spring occasions, usually during the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival.Festival and Lantern Festival.

The 15th of the first month of Chinese New The 15th of the first month of Chinese New Year, marks the end of the New Year Year, marks the end of the New Year celebrations. It is the time for family reunion celebrations. It is the time for family reunion again, where families eat a kind of cake, again, where families eat a kind of cake, which looks like a table tennis ball (a little which looks like a table tennis ball (a little smaller) made of sticky rice with sweet smaller) made of sticky rice with sweet stuffing inside. Everyone eats a few on stuffing inside. Everyone eats a few on Lantern Festival, which symbolizes that the Lantern Festival, which symbolizes that the family will stick together. family will stick together.

The New Year's Eve is the time for families. The New Year's Eve is the time for families. The New Year Eve's dinner is the biggest The New Year Eve's dinner is the biggest dinner of the year, much like Thanksgiving dinner of the year, much like Thanksgiving dinner in the United States. The dinner is dinner in the United States. The dinner is full of symbolic meaning, such as Chinese full of symbolic meaning, such as Chinese dumplings implying wealth since they have dumplings implying wealth since they have the shape of ancient Chinese gold or silver the shape of ancient Chinese gold or silver ingots. ingots.

* Lotus seed - signify having many male offspring * Lotus seed - signify having many male offspring * Ginkgo nut - represents silver ingots * Ginkgo nut - represents silver ingots * Black moss seaweed - is a homonym for exceeding in wealth* Black moss seaweed - is a homonym for exceeding in wealth* Dried bean curd is another homonym for fulfillment of wealth and happiness * Dried bean curd is another homonym for fulfillment of wealth and happiness * Bamboo shoots - is a term which sounds like "wishing that everything would * Bamboo shoots - is a term which sounds like "wishing that everything would be well"be well"* Fresh bean curd or tofu is not included as it is white and unlucky for New Year * Fresh bean curd or tofu is not included as it is white and unlucky for New Year as the color signifies death and misfortune as the color signifies death and misfortune

Chinese Zodiac

Chinese Zodiac

2010 --- Year of Tiger