If Your Reply to "Chinese New Year" Is "What's That?", You've Got To Read This!

Chinese New Year is the "biggest" holiday for the Chinese population around the world. It's also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival (many parts of the world is still in winter though) and marks the first day of a new year (lunar calendar).

The night before Chinese New Year. Most Chinese families will have 'reunion dinner' whereby they gather to have dinner (either at home or at a Chinese restaurant). On Chinese New Year, they will visit their grandparents or parents and relatives. Usually this is done over the span of 2-3 days. The elders or married will give red packets to the children as well as those who are unmarried. Usually it is the children who truly enjoy themselves as they gather and play with their cousins, get red packet (which contains money) and eat new year goodies (such as bak kwa, barbequed meat usually made in square shape).

Some customs and practices include the giving of red packets by those who are more senior (criteria = married), exchange of mandarin oranges and the wearing of new clothes and shoes to welcome the new year. Some superstitious practices include no sweeping of floors (it's believed that one will sweep the good luck away), no breaking of things (as far as possible but if it happens the Chinese will quickly say some good words to make up for the bad luck) or swearing/arguments lest it happen all year round.

According to Chinese horoscopes which consists of a rotating cycle of 12 animals, 2011 is the year of the rabbit.

The order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

How did the order come about?

According to Chinese legend, the Jade Emperor ("king" of gods) announce that they're creating a cycle of years and a group of animals quarreled over who was to head the cycle of years. Seeing the chaotic state the animals was in, the Jade Emperor decided to hold a race: the position of the animals will be determined by the order of them reaching the destination.

All the twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to jump onto the bank, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race. Hence it was awarded the first place and the ox got second. The dragon and the snake got tangled so they ended up 5th and 6th respectively. The pig, who was very lazy, ended up last.

Last but not least, just in case you didn't know, Chinese New Year ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_new_year ) falls on 3rd February this year. Don't forget to wish your Chinese friends "Happy New Year" on that day.

The writer's interest is in writing Korean Fashion articles but sometimes she ventures where her mind or soul leads her. Visit the author's Korean Fashion if you like to find out more.

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