The origins of the Chinese New Year celebrations were born out of fear and myth.
According to legend, Nien (which also is the word for "year") was a wild beast that appeared at the end of each year who attacked and killed villagers.
For this reaon, the locals ceremoniously mustered up loud noises and bright lights to scare the beast away.
Today, the 15-day New Year festivities are celebrated with a week of vacation in China.
On North American shores, Chinese residents practice the tradition, as well.
Chinese New Year boasts all the pomp and circumstance (and joyous whallop) celebrated in the modern Western world today.
Once the New Year has kicked off, a Chinese celebration - which spans over a two-week period - follows.
JIE CAI CENG
Welcoming the Gods of Wealth and Prosperity
On the 5th day of New Year, it is believed that the Gods of prosperity come down from the heavens.
Businesses will often set off firecrackers because they believe the ritual will bring them prosperity and good fortune.
YUAN XIAO JIE
Festival of Lanterns
The 15th day of the New Year is known as "The Festival of Lanterns" and marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
All types of lanterns are lit throughout the street,
In addition, poems and riddles are written for entertainment.
Paper lanterns are created on wheels in the form of either a rabbit or the animal of the year (see below).
The rabbit lantern represents a Chinese myth about a female Goddess named "Chang E" who jumped onto the moon.
Rather than travel alone, Chang E took a rabbit with her to keep her company.
It is said that if your heart is pure enough, you can see the goddess Chang E and her rabbit on the moon on the day of the Festival of Lanterns.
SYMBOLS
Called "hong bao" in Mandarin, the red envelopes filled with money are typically given to children or unmarried adults with no job.
If you're single and working and making money, you still have to give the younger ones the hong bao money.
The color red denotes good luck (fortune) and happiness (abundance) in the Chinese Culture and is often worn or used for decoration in other celebrations.
Dragon
The Dragon is present in many Chinese cultural celebrations as the Chinese people often think of themselves as descendants of the mythical creature.
On the fifth day of the New Year, when many people have to start going back to work, Dancing Dragons will perform in the front of the office building.
On the 15th day of the New Year (Yuan Xiao Jie), they will also have a lot of dancing dragon performances.
The dragon represents prosperity, good luck and good fortune.
Chinese Animal Zodiac
The Chinese Animal Zodiac follows a 12-year cycle used for dating the years.
A cyclical concept of time, rather than the Western linear concept of time, was used for centuries.
The Chinese Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and is constructed in a different fashion than the Western solar calendar.
In the Chinese calendar, the beginning of the year falls between late January and early February.
The Chinese adopted the Western calendar in 1911, but the lunar calendar is still used for festive occasions such as the Chinese New Year.
Hence, the celebration of Chinese New Year!
The twelve Zodiac Animals
*Dog
*Pig
*Rooste
*Dragon
*Ox
*Sheep
*Horse
* Rabbit
* Snake
*Monkey
* Rat
*Tiger
Legend
According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals quarreled one day as to who was to head up the cycle of years.
Because they could not reach an accord, the Gods were asked to decide.
A contest was held.
The animal that reached the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish.
All the twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in.
Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped on his back.
As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race.
The pig, who was very lazy, ended up last.
That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second, and the pig last.
I'm a Dragon.
How 'bout you?
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