Posts Tagged ‘lantern festival’

Seven Elements You must Know About Chinese New Year

Millions of people worldwide will celebrate the Chinese New Year 2012.The celebration occurs more than the course of two weeks. The Chinese New Year is one event that’s steeped in tradition. Here are some of them:

1. Adults, both married and unmarried, give out red envelopes to children throughout this event. The envelopes have money in them. Also, employers give their employees these envelopes to be able to bring great luck. The amount in the cash should always be in even numbers, ideally 8, that is a lucky number for the Chinese.

2. The Chinese regard tangerines as a lucky fruit, so you will find these fruits serve in traditional Chinese New Year feasts. Throughout the celebration, children are expected to provide their elders two tangerines as they wish their elders a happy new year. The act of providing tangerines is also taken to mean that they wish their elders luck in the new year also.

3. The dragon and lion dance is some thing that is never missing in Chinese New Years parades, especially within the numerous Chinatowns around the globe. Towards the Chinese, the dragon symbolizes good fortune and power. Dancing is believed to bring in great luck and prosperity for the new year.

4. The Chinese decorate their homes with read banners. The banners have the word “Fu” printed or painted on them for luck. Some also have short couplets and poems printed. The poems convey gratitude for the previous year’s blessings and hopeful wishes for the new year.

5. Chinese New Year is also known as the Lantern Festival, so anticipate to determine lanterns as an additional regular fixture of this specific occasion. Individuals buy these lanterns to light them up. It’s their way of ushering in the new year. Some walk about with lit lanterns on the streets, while other people string them up outside their houses.

6. These lanterns may also have riddles on them. What they do is write riddles on pieces of paper and place them on the lantern. Anybody — guests and passersby — can try to guess the riddle. If they answer it properly, they get a present from the individual who hung the lantern.

7. The Chinese New Year is also a time when the ancestors are remembered. This really is carried out by saying prayers in their honor. Individuals also make certain to burn incense sticks as they say their prayers and thank them for any blessings that they received throughout the previous year.

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