A new year signifies the commencement of a brand new sequence of 365 days with lots of hope to meet sunshine and a whole lot of good things to cheer about. All the dissatisfactions and failures are kept behind and people strive to move forward towards better days. The New Year Celebrations of any country whatsoever are meant to herald the advent of the new and the days after. China being one of the oldest countries in the world has profound importance attached to the concept of New Year. Also known as Lunar New Year, Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year happens to be the most important of all Chinese celebrations.
The Chinese New Year dates are determined by the lunisolar Chinese calendar. Countries influenced by the Han culture (Korea, Japan and Vietnam) follow this calculation system of New Year dates. The Chinese New Year commences on the first day of the new year with a new moon and ends fourteen days later on the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival is actually celebrated at night with lantern on display and children carrying lanterns in a procession. According to the solar movements, however, the New Year dates are different and so in order to keep a parity working, the Chinese insert an extra month much in the lines of the leap year.
The Chinese New Year is basically marked by the concept of reunion of relatives, friends and kin. New clothes, gifts and New Year visits are significant aspects of the Chinese New Year. Red envelopes containing money in the form of dollars or pennies are exchanged among the young and the old. Greetings are exchanged among the people and decorations are found galore with toys, gifts, flowers etc. The Chinese New Year in 2008 is supposed to be on the 7th February.
Food is an important part of the Chinese New Year celebrations and the main items prepared and consumed are Buddha's delight (vegetarian), Nian gao, Jau gok, Jiaozi dumplings, Mandarin oranges, Turnip cakes, Taro cakes, Tikoy, Melon seed/Kwatji, Candy and Fish. Chinese New Year 2008 will be celebrated during 7th – 9th February of the regular calendar year.
Overall, the Chinese New Year is an occasion to be one with one’s friends and relatives, greet them and together welcome the advent of a new beginning.
Flightshotelstours.com offers online information on Chinese New Year.
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