Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4708 begins on February 14, 2010. Chinese months are governed by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year. The Year of the Tiger: Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. Anyone that is born in the Year of the Tiger is usually straightforward and outgoing by nature. They will never give up no matter how aggravated they may become. But, they are also full of suspicion and at times will take hasty action. Never lose sight of the fact that Tigers are smart and instinctive. People born in the Year of the Tiger always take pride in being different from others, and normally demonstrate their originality best in their homes. Their homes are typically filled with exotic possessions. It is no surprise that one of the Tiger’s favorite gemstones is the cat’s eye, but tigers also love the sparkle of rubies and diamonds. They like to spend money, and also to share it. They can be very impulsive spenders because they know they can at all times make more. Famous people born in The Year of Tiger include Jay Leno - talk show host, Stevie Wonder - singer, Alec Guinness - actor, Ludwig van Beethoven - composer, Marilyn Monroe - actress, Groucho Marx - actor/comedian, Oscar Wilde - playwright/novelist, Mel Brooks - director/actor/producer/writer, Queen Elizabeth II and Tom Cruise - actor. How is the Lunar New Year Celebrated? At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which has the power to drive away bad luck. The fireworks that are common at the celebrations are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits. The Lantern Festival In China, the New Year is a time of family reunion. Family members gather at each other's homes for visits and shared meals, with the greatest feast occuring on New Year's Eve. Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. The lanterns are beautifully decorated with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon. In many areas the highlight of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon—which might stretch a hundred feet long—is typically made of silk, paper, and bamboo. Traditionally the dragon is maneuvered by young men who dance as they guide the colorful beast through the streets. In the United States, where the New Year is celebrated with a shortened schedule, the dragon dance always takes place on a weekend. These festivals are often seen as highlights on the major news channels. |
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