Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional chinese holiday. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month(正月) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival.

History
Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year. Each year or each dates fall to 12 animals name. 12-year cycle of the animal zodiac. These 12 animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

Legend
In the background of Chinese New Year got many legends and story. According to talent and legend, he beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nian or "年" in Chinese. Nian would come on the first of the New Year to attack village. So every year they would prepaid and put food in front of their doors. One time, people saw that the Nian was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nian was afraid of the color red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian. From then on, the Nian never came to the village again. Some of this tradisional chinese culture is from this legend till now. Example, when Chinese New Year some of family will hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and door and we would hear sound of firecrakers when Chinese New Year.

The Chinese New Year celebrations are marked by visit relatives and friend, a practice known as "new-year visits"(拜年). The married and elders, will give "red packet"(angpao红包) to juniors and children. On period of Chinese New Year, many of family also will having reunion dinner. This mean whole family together having dinner.

Food of Chinese New YeaR
When Chinese New Year we will having some special food. Some of these food got their meaning and many people trust some of these food will bring lucky to them.

• YuShengs(鱼生) - Raw fish salad. Eating this salad is said to bring good luck. This dish is usually eaten on the seventh day of the New Year.
  
• Nian Gao(年糕) - Popular Chinese New Year food. It meaning "a more prosperous year".



• Mandarin Orange(柑) - Most popular and most abundant fruit during Chinese New Year.
• Melon Seed/Kwatji(瓜子) - Other variations include sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
  


• Bakkwa(肉干) - Chinese salty-sweet dried meat which is trimmed of the fat, sliced, marinated and then smoked for later consumption or as a gift. Some people with take bakkwa as gift for their friend and relative.
  

• Fish - It is meaning each year more additional money and live

Dragon Dance & Lion Dance

Dragon and lion dances are common during Chinese New Year. It is believed that the loud beats of the drum and the deafening sounds of the cymbals together with the face of the dragon or lion dancing aggressively can evict bad or evil spirits.

Greeting of Chinese New Year

Gong Xi Fa Cai - 恭喜发财 is translates to "Congratulations and be prosperous"

End

Wish all have a Happy Chinese New Year ....

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