Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. This year on February 3rd the country will be entering a year of the creative, however incredibly private Rabbit. Since the Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is based on the Chinese calendar which is partially being founded on lunar cycles, this guarantees that the date is not static on western calendars. The festival typically starts on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and finishes with Lantern Festival that is on the 15th day.

It is Chinese New Year custom to thoroughly tidy the house. Prior to New Year’s Eve, the house ought to be tidied in preparation. This represents the sweeping out of miss fortune and the wishful invitation to good luck. When window frames and doors are given a new coat of paint, typically red, are also Chinese New Year traditions. Decorations are hung up around the house and oranges and tangerines are put out, symbolizing good luck for the New Year.

It is traditional for all money owed to be paid by the New Year. No money should be loaned out at this time or whoever lends money will be lending all the year through.

Customarily, New Year in China is a time when families assemble – travelling far and wide to visit as many relatives as possible. Every member of the family sits up all night, passing the time by watching television or playing board games. It is tradition to leave every light in the house on. After the meal, adults give out red envelopes containing money to the children and people who are married. Unlike in the Western world, where people give material items as presents, in China, money is typically the default gift given to others. They will put these under their pillows when they sleep as they believe this may gives them hope to have pleasant dreams and they will become richer next year.

Another element of the celebrations are the dances, such as the Lion Dance and the Dragon Dance. On the one hand, Lion Dance is one of the most essential dances of the Chinese New Year. Accompanied by loud music customarily played by drum, gong, and cymbals, the Lion Dance is carried out during the first few days of the Chinese New Year by two talented dancers who play the tail and head of the lion, and is believed to provide good luck to the areas it visits. The lion dance has it’s origin in legend. A mythic beast called a Nian turned up in China and terrorized the people. The only being which kill the Nian was the lion and his triumph is celebrated in the dance itself.

The the other hand, the Dragon Dance is the almost certainly the most renowned custom of the Chinese New Year, and it is carried out with plenty of dancers all playing one part of the long dragon. This dance is being founded on the legend that the dragon regulates rainfall. By honoring the dragon with the traditional dance the country will be blessed with enough rain to maintain their crops. The right amount of of crops will bring forth wealth to the farmers and the community they serve.

To burn firecrackers and to let off at the time of midnight is an age-old Chinese New Year custom. This Chinese New Year tradition represents a lot of things. They are said to bang loud enough to wake up the dragon, causing it to fly and bring rainfall.

After New Year’s Day, dirt and garbage should be thrown out of the back door.

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