Exploring Chinese New Year
Photo courtesy of Kseniia Semenova
Why does China celebrate New Year in February? They live by the lunar calendar and they do not even celebrate their birthday every year the same day because of this.
As you know, every year it is the year of some particular animal called a zodiac, and this year it is the year of the dragon. This year it is especially powerful for people with a creative nature, and it fills the year with enthusiasm for work. It will be a very hard-working year but will bring great achievements for those who do not hesitate to sweat. This year is the year of a Wooden Dragon who brings authority, prosperity, and good fortune.
Photo courtesy of Baidu.com
The most traditional dishes on the Chinese New Year
To eat noodles is to have a long life, dumplings to have wealth, rice sweet balls to get family always together, spring roles that are also a symbol of prosperity, good fortune fruit they call it mandarins, that also symbolize wealth and fullness, steamed fish prosperity and rice cake is higher income and higher position.
Decorations
Before New Year comes, some Chinese families buy banners that they put on their doors. They can be with a symbol of the year, or some strong prosperous words that will protect their home
Photo courtesy of Kseniia Semenova
and bring wealth and luck to their family. When the holiday comes people are firing up firecrackers, that are extremely loud. Usually, they leave a huge pale of red pieces of paper, and in most of the cities no one ever cleans them up for a few days, because they are also a symbol of protection from the demons, this is why the firecrackers are also so loud to scare away evil spirits.
Photo courtesy of Baidu.com
Red Envelopes
Legend about red envelope Hong Bao. It is a huge thing in China, people give each other these envelopes with money. They really give presents to each other money, because it is more a customed tradition than a financial support. Behind this lays a legend about the demon named Sui. He used to get out from the waters and fly near the children at night, touching their heads, children could become very sick. So, parents started putting a small red bag with eight coins near the neck of their kids. Like that demon got scared of the light and sound. It is a very pretty tradition, with the idea that there is always a little kid living inside of you.
Happy New Year! Xinnian Kuaile!
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