Introducing the Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year is the most important Chinese celebrations and begins on the first day of the first lunar month and proceeds for fifteen days. The Chinese New Year is not only restricted to China but is celebrated throughout Asia. The Twelve-year animal zodiac and ten year heavenly stems Cycles also coincide with the Chinese New Year.

The myth of how the Chinese New Year began is thought to originate from villagers protecting themselves from the monster Nian, or Year. On the first day of the New Year, Nian would come to eat what ever and whom ever it could. Villagers would leave food out hoping to satiate its hunger. Nian was also scared by the color red so red lanterns were hung to frighten it away. The current New Year stems from the celebration of the banishment of this beast.

The most travel in Asia occurs around the Chinese New year as this is a time to visit friends and relative. The day before the New Year the house will be thoroughly cleaned to get rid of last years bad luck and usher in the next year's good luck. Often time's individuals will wear new clothes to symbolize a new start.

Specific days of the New Year have specific traditions. The first day of the New Year welcomes the deities of heaven and earth. All meals are prepared a day in advance as knives and lighting fires are considered to be bad luck. The most senior family members are visited on this day. On the second day any married women can visit their birth parents and prayers are sent up to the gods and ancestors.

The third and fourth day has no traveling as these days are more prone to arguments. As well as being disrespectful to any relatives that may have had loved ones pass away over the past few years. The fifth day celebrated the Chinese god of wealth and dumplings, symbols of wealth, are eaten.

On the seventh day everyone turns one year older as this is the common mans birthday. On this day friends congregate and feast on colorful raw fish salads. The Jade emperor of Heaven's birthday is on the ninth day. Offerings of sugarcane are made to the Jade emperor and honored guests will drink tea. On the last day of the New Year lanterns and candles are lit to guide back wayward spirits.