Chinese New Year

On the Western calendar, the start of Chinese New Year falls on February 7, 2008 — Year of the Rat.

The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-yearcycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year. Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the New Year and ends on the full moon 15 days late.

On New Year’s day, everyone had on new clothes Visitors would be greeted with traditional New year delicacies, such as melon seeds, flowers and NIANGAO( New Year cakes). Tangerines are symbolic of good luck, and oranges are symbolic of wealth.Parade and procession with lion or dragon dance is organized by Chinese populated community to add festive mood during this day of the year.

Tray of Togetherness: Many families keep a tray full of dried fruits, sweets, and candies to welcome guests and relatives who drop by, traditionally made up of eight compartments, each of which was filled with a special food item of significance to the New Year season.

Lucky Character: The single word “FOOK ", or fortune, is often displayed in many homes and stores. They are usually written by brush on a diamond-shaped piece of red paper. Spring Couplets: - short poems written in Classical Chinese are traditionally written with black ink on red paper. They are hung in storefronts in the month before the New Year’s Day, and often stay up for two months. They express best wishes and fortune for the coming year.

In addition, symbolic flowers and fruits were used to decorate the house, and colorful new year pictures (NIAN HUA) were placed on the walls. Plum Blossoms: stand for courage and hope. Water Narcissus: Flower that blossoms at New Year’s time. If the white flowers blossom exactly on the day of the New Year, it is believed to indicate good fortune for the ensuing twelve months.

Red packet contain small amount of money normally is given out to the youngster by the elder in the house, Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.