New Years, The Most Important Holiday On Chinese Calendars
The traditional New Year’s celebration on the Chinese calendars begins during the middle of the twelfth month continuing until the middle of the first month of the year. This time also coincides with the waxing (increasing) moon for that month. The Chinese use a lunar calendar meaning their months are determined by the cycles of the moon.
The Chinese New Year festival has, for thousands of years, been very significant to the Chinese way of life. It is very common in China to take up to two weeks off to ready one’s self for this event.
It is believed that during the New Year’s festival the Gods would come down for house inspections. This is one reason why it is customary to clean your house from top to bottom for the upcoming holiday. The cleaning is also done to rid the home of negative spirits. At the center of this celebration is home and family especially the parents of the household.
It is also customary to set off firecrackers to ward off bad luck and evils spirits during this time. There is also a belief that fireworks are set off in the hopes to wake the sleeping dragon. Upon wakening the dragon will fly through the sky and bring the spring rains needed for the crops to grow. It is also traditional to throw firecrackers at the feet of the dragon dancers. This encourages him to stay awake for the duration of the celebration.
People are also known to write down on scrolls, messages of luck to leave on their neighbors, friends or families gates. Other activities traditional to this time of year are buying new clothes, paying off debts, painting doors and window sills, even getting a new haircut can symbolize the hopes and aspirations for the coming year.
The most vital piece of this event is the huge banquets that are prepared by and for families far and wide to celebrate the upcoming year. Many foods are prepared and eaten as a way to symbolize the longevity of the pending year. All foods cooked during this time have their roots in the Chinese old ways. During the beginning of the festival long noodles are eaten to remind everyone that the year ahead would be long.
Everything from fish to chicken, spring rolls to dumplings have a special connection and reason for being served during the Chinese New Year. As an example large, round dumplings are served as a reminder of the full moon on the final evening of the festival.
