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The
Chinese New Year is very similar to the Western one but has many
more traditions and rituals.
It
starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends
on the full moon 15 days later.
Preparations
for the Chinese New year usually begin about a month prior to the
date, when presents are bought, decorations made, and houses cleaned.
The
cleaning purifies the house and eradicates any bad luck that may
be left from the previous year.
There
are many rituals and taboos associated with Chinese New Year.
Cleaning
a house on New Year's day runs the risk of washing or sweeping away
good luck.
For
the same reason, washing hair is avoided on the first and last day
of the New Year.
Sharp
implements are also avoided, as they run the risk of cutting the
threads of good fortune brought in at New Year.
Most
of the celebrating takes place on New Year's Eve and New Year's
Day, and is traditionally
a time for family, reunion and rejoicing.
Firecrackers
are an essential part of the Chinese New Year. They are the Chinese
way of sending out the old year, welcoming in the new one, and frightening
away evil spirits.
On
the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, every door and window
in the house have to be open to allow the old year to go out.
Most
people stay up all night celebrating and at midnight fireworks and
firecrackers are set off to frighten away evil spirits.
On
New Year's Day itself, an ancient custom called Hong Bao (Red Packet)
takes place.
Children
wake up early to find small red envelopes containing sweets or money
under their pillows and married couples give unmarried adults small
packets of money and then the new year greetings begin.
The
New Year celebration was originally highlighted with a religious
ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household
and the family ancestors.
The
15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is
celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying
lanterns in a parade.
Everywhere
is decorated with different sized lanterns and music and dancing
takes place in the streets.
A special
feature of the Lantern Festival is the dragon dance, where a huge
dragon head and body, supported by a team of dancers weaves its
way around the streets collecting money on its route.
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| The
dragon is a typical symbol of the Chinese New Year. |
»Read
more about Chinese celebrations, culture and customs and the history
of Gloucestershire's Chinese community in Our
Untold Stories.
|
In
2005, Chinese New Year is on 9th February. The New Year will be the
Year of the Rooster. 
