Chinese
New Year is the longest and most important festival in the Chinese
calendar. In China,
it
is also known as the 'Spring Festival'. The origin of Chinese New
Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of
several myths and traditions. Chinese New Year is celebrated in China
and in countries and territories with significant Chinese
populations, including Hong Kong, Macau,
Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius,
Philippines, and
also in Chinatowns
elsewhere.
Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and
has had influence on the lunar new year celebrations of its
geographic neighbours.
The next Chinese New Year's Day falls on 10 February 2013. The new
year will be the year of the snake.
Within
China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of
the Chinese new year vary widely. People will pour out their money to
buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also
traditional for every family to thoroughly cleanse the house, in
order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming
luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper-cuts
and couplets with
popular themes of “good
fortune” or “happiness”, "wealth",
and "longevity." On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is
a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks,
chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with
firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their
parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive
money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is to
reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness
for everyone.