Chinese New Year 2011

Chinese New Year is an important festival for the Chinese community throughout the world. It is the first day of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. This day is marked with celebrations and get together with friends and family. The Chinese New Year Eve is the most important time of the celebrations. The Chinese New Year celebration that begins on the first day of the calendar year lasts until 15 days. The New Year eve is marked with celebrations and feasts.

The Chinese New Year 2011 will be celebrated on February 3 and will last for 15 days following the lunar calendar. The rabbit represent February 3, 2011 or the day of New Year. The year 2011 is called the "Year of the Rabbit". The preparations for this occasion would begin in the month of January. You can celebrate the day with your spouse, relatives, and family. Also, plan a vacation to the cities of China to experience all events related to the New Year.

Chinese New Year celebrations

People visit their kins and parents during these 15 days. The days of public holidays allow the children to indulge in games and New Year decorations. Children and adults wear new clothes on this day. Food and gifts are distributed among the poor people. Household cleanings begins a day before the New Year that varies from one year to another. In many homes, even paints and renovations take place. Paper cut outs, glass pieces, and traditional Chinese items are used for decorations. The most important part of the Chinese New Year celebrations is the dinner. The banquet includes family members, friends, and colleagues. The dinner mainly comprises sweet foods and no vegetarian Chinese dishes. Even Chinese people living elsewhere maintain this tradition. It almost resembles the dinner of the west during Christmas. The New Year cake called the Niango is cut to welcome the prosperous year.

New Year in China is celebrated in the streets of China, in the downtown areas, and clubs. Young people indulge in decorations and fireworks display at the stroke of midnight.

Chinese New Year food

No celebration or festival is complete without the special food menus. Chinese New Year 2011 can be a special one with varied preparations of traditional and contemporary Chinese cuisines. Chinese cuisines are popular all over the world. The Chinese dishes on New Year's Eve may differ from one part to another. There are symbolic food and recipes prepared at home like Spring Rolls, chicken chowmein, lettuce wraps, sticky rice cake, and sweet foods.

Chinese New Year traditions

There are regional traditions within China for New Year celebrations. These traditions vary from one place to another. The people follow some traditions to bring in luck, wealth, and prosperity. Like the red packets and the red wrapper, gifts are sent to friends and dear ones. Household cleaning, wearing new clothes, and cooking traditional food are part of the traditions of New Year in Chinese communities. Ill health, evil spirit, and bad luck is swept away from the house by the elders.

Chinese New Year decorations

Decorations for Chinese New Year 2011 would begin prior to the night of New Year. The young members of the family decorate the streets, clubs, bars, restaurants, and homes. Paper cut outs, red wrappers, lights, and candles are used for decorations on New Year eve. People often abide by the theme and symbol of the year. The symbol for 2011 Chinese New Year is rabbit.

Chinese New Year facts

• This New Year is celebrated according to the Lumar Calendar mainly in the months of January and February.
• It lasts for 15 days and ends with the Lantern Festival in the Chinese community.
• Countries having a significant Chinese population like Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan have the day listed among the public holidays.
• Each of the 15 day festival has a special significance.
• Red envelopes or red packets bring the New Year gifts.
• Number 8 is considered lucky.
• The Chinese New Year markets allow tourists to buy palm trees, biscuits, clothes, antiques, and other decorative items.

  Chinese New Year for kids

  
  Like every other festivities in the country, the Chinese New Year day is also fun time for kids. They wear new clothes, decorate their homes, play games, and enjoy the hearty meal. Crackers or the fireworks of form an important part of the day's celebration. They are also part of the prayer services in the Buddhist temples with the adults.
  
  

  Chinese New Year gifts

  
  Exchanging of gifts is a prominent tradition followed by the Chinese community all over the world. Parents and relatives living far from home are sent greeting cards, gifts, lucky charms, and new clothes as gifts for New Year. Kids enjoy their new clothes that their parents and elders gift the. The popular Chinese New Year gifts for kids include the following:
• Storybooks
• Shoes
• Clothes
• Decorative items
• Board games
• Bags
• Color pencils
• Toys
• Dolls
• Reddy bears
  
  For adults, the gifts might range from useful things to that of luxury items. Couples can gift each other clothes, perfume, jewelry set, pendants, rings, chimes, Chinese antique pieces, and household appliances. A New Year vacation package may come from your parents too. For gifting your friends and siblings, you can choose from things of decorations, makeup, light accessories, books, pens, and food basket.