LEDO is a journal of the "everyday of everything" in my life that is worth remembering ...... to remind me that each new day is a chance to explore new things, to enjoy life, and to thank God! I always believe that we live everyday and we die once!
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Interesting to Know: Facts about Chinese New Year!
Day 40 of 2016Interesting to Know: Facts about Chinese New Year!
The date for Chinese New Year changes each year. It is always between January 21 and February 20, determined by the Chinese lunar calendar.
The holiday is oddly called "Spring Festival". Though in winter, Chinese call their New Year holiday 'Spring Festival' (春节 chūnjié /chwnn-jyeah/), because 'Start of Spring' (4–18 February) is the first of the terms in the traditional solar calendar. While wintry weather prevails, 'Start of Spring' marks the end of the coldest part of winter, when the Chinese traditionally could look forward to the beginning of spring.
Every Chinese New Year starts a new animal's zodiac year. A very old custom is to name the years by one of 12 animals in the zodiac cycle. 2016 is the Year of the Monkey. Many Chinese still believe in astrology and other New Year superstitions. Each new year, Chinese people focuses on making amends, reconciling with people, avoiding offence, and re-establishing old ties. Traditionally, they buy and wear new clothes, give gifts, and clean house.
It is a festival for 1/5 of the world's population. It is China's winter vacation week, like between Christmas and New Year's Day in other countries. Schools in China get about a month off, and universities even more. China, Hong Kong and Macau, and nine other Asian countries have public holidays.
Chinese New Year is a very big celebrations in London and Hong Kong. An estimated 500 thousand people converged for Chinese New Year in London's Chinatown, Trafalgar Square, and Central London streets in 2013.
In Hong Kong, a big holiday custom is horse racing. The most popular races of all in the city happens on the third day of the Spring Festival holidays when 100,000 excited fans crowd into Sha Tin Racecourse. The spectators watch a grand opening show, a featured lion dance, and a variety of cultural performances and entertainment.
4% of the world's population are on the move. 200 million Mainland Chinese travel long distances for these holidays, and it is estimated that there are 3.5 billion journeys in China. For comparison, less than 100 million people travel more than 50 miles during the Christmas holidays in the US according to the American Automobile Association.
It is the world's biggest annual fireworks usage. No single hour in any other country sees as many tons of fireworks lighted as in China around the midnight beginning Chinese New Year. China produces about 90% of the world's fireworks!
Fireworks are used to scare evil spirits. Most mainland Chinese believe that the flash and bang of firecrackers and fireworks scare away demons and evil ghosts.
The Lantern Festival once ended 16 days of festivities. Traditionally, the 16 days from New Year's Eve until the Lantern Festival each had a special celebration activity. In the evening of 15th day of the first lunar month, on the night of the full moon, families gather for dinner and go out and see fireworks and light lanterns. Lanterns are put up for decoration, let loose to fly, and floated in rivers.
Reference: http://www.chinahighlights.com/
The holiday is oddly called "Spring Festival". Though in winter, Chinese call their New Year holiday 'Spring Festival' (春节 chūnjié /chwnn-jyeah/), because 'Start of Spring' (4–18 February) is the first of the terms in the traditional solar calendar. While wintry weather prevails, 'Start of Spring' marks the end of the coldest part of winter, when the Chinese traditionally could look forward to the beginning of spring.
Every Chinese New Year starts a new animal's zodiac year. A very old custom is to name the years by one of 12 animals in the zodiac cycle. 2016 is the Year of the Monkey. Many Chinese still believe in astrology and other New Year superstitions. Each new year, Chinese people focuses on making amends, reconciling with people, avoiding offence, and re-establishing old ties. Traditionally, they buy and wear new clothes, give gifts, and clean house.
It is a festival for 1/5 of the world's population. It is China's winter vacation week, like between Christmas and New Year's Day in other countries. Schools in China get about a month off, and universities even more. China, Hong Kong and Macau, and nine other Asian countries have public holidays.
- Hong Kong blazes with fireworks and lights dance on the buildings.
- China: 1.3 billion in China get three days of public holiday.
- Indonesia: 250 million people in Indonesia get one day of public holiday.
- Philippines: 100 million get one day of public holiday.
- Vietnam: 90 million people get at least three days of public holidays, but the holidays sometimes extends for an entire week by taking away weekends, as in China.
- South Korea: 50 million people get three days of public holiday.
- Malaysia: 30 million people get one day of public holiday.
- North Korea: 24 million people get three days of public holiday.
- Taiwan: 24 million people get four days of public holiday generally.
- Brunei: One day of public holiday.
- Singapore: Two days of public holiday.
- Hong Kong: Three days of public holidays, extending to four days if the holidays fall on a Sunday.
- Macau: Three days of public holiday, extending to four days if the holidays fall on a Sunday.
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| Chinese New Year red envelopes ("hong bao") |
In Hong Kong, a big holiday custom is horse racing. The most popular races of all in the city happens on the third day of the Spring Festival holidays when 100,000 excited fans crowd into Sha Tin Racecourse. The spectators watch a grand opening show, a featured lion dance, and a variety of cultural performances and entertainment.
4% of the world's population are on the move. 200 million Mainland Chinese travel long distances for these holidays, and it is estimated that there are 3.5 billion journeys in China. For comparison, less than 100 million people travel more than 50 miles during the Christmas holidays in the US according to the American Automobile Association.
It is the world's biggest annual fireworks usage. No single hour in any other country sees as many tons of fireworks lighted as in China around the midnight beginning Chinese New Year. China produces about 90% of the world's fireworks!
Fireworks are used to scare evil spirits. Most mainland Chinese believe that the flash and bang of firecrackers and fireworks scare away demons and evil ghosts.
The Lantern Festival once ended 16 days of festivities. Traditionally, the 16 days from New Year's Eve until the Lantern Festival each had a special celebration activity. In the evening of 15th day of the first lunar month, on the night of the full moon, families gather for dinner and go out and see fireworks and light lanterns. Lanterns are put up for decoration, let loose to fly, and floated in rivers.
Reference: http://www.chinahighlights.com/
***** Daily Barometer: Feeling Simply Chinese!
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