新(xīn) 年(nián) 快(kuài) 樂(lè) Happy New Year! Chinese New Year 新(xīn) 年(nián) 快(kuài) 樂(lè) Happy New Year!

Fact Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.  The festival begins on the first day of the first month in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day

How do we celebrate Chinese New Year?

Before Chinese New Year Eve Buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. Cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper cuts and couplets  with popular themes of "happiness", "wealth", and "longevity“ Brooms and dust pans are put away on the first day so that the newly arrived good luck cannot be swept away.

Chinese New Year Eve 除(chú) 夕(xì) 夜(yè) The biggest event of any Chinese New Year's Eve is the dinner every family will have. This meal is comparable to Christmas dinner in the West. Children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes for good luck and wealth.   For children, the most exciting part of the holiday comes when they receive their 紅(hóng) 包(bāo) , red envelopes full of cash. 

First Day of Chinese New Year 大(dà) 年(nián) 初(chū) 一(yī) Worship the deities of the heavens and earth and their ancestors.  The temples are usually very busy during this time of year as large numbers of people crowd into them with elevated incense sticks to pray for good luck Vegetarian breakfast and also abstain from killing animals. New clothes are worn, and visits are made to friends, neighbors, and relatives to exchange good wishes of 恭(gōng) 喜(xǐ) 發(fā) 財(cái) , which means “congratulations and prosperity.”People will greet each other with the words of “ 恭(gōng)喜(xǐ)!恭(gōng)喜(xǐ)! 新(xīn) 年(nián) 快(kuài) 樂(lè Congratulations! Happy New Year!

Second Day of Chinese New Year 大(dà) 年(nián)初(chū) 二(èr) Married daughters visit their birth parents.  If she is a newlywed, her husband must accompany her and bring gifts for her family.  A large feast is also typically held on the second day of the new year.

Thired Day of Chinese New Year 大(dà) 年(nián)初(chū)三(sān) According to a charming legend, the third day of the Lunar New Year is the day when mice marry off their daughters. Thus, on that night, people are supposed to go to bed early so that the mice can perform their wedding ceremonies.

Fouth Day of Chinese New Year 大(dà) 年(nián)初(chū) 四(sì) On the fourth day, the fervor begins to ebb. In the afternoon, people prepare offerings of food to welcome the return of the Kitchen God 

Fifth Day of Chinese New Year 大(dà) 年(nián)初(chū) 五(wǔ) Businesses traditionally re-open on the fifth day, accompanied by firecrackers or lion dace to bring lucky and money.

Lantern Festival 元(yuán) 宵(xiāo) 節(jié) Fifteenth Day of Chinese New Year Rice Ball 湯(tāng) 圓(yuán) is eaten this day. Families walk the street carrying lighted lanterns. This day marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities.

Lucky Things fireworks and firecrackers are traditionally very popular. Traditionally the Chinese use Dragon dance 舞(wǔ) 龍(lóng) and Lion dance 舞(wǔ) 獅(shī) as a symbol of luck. Red is the lucky color used in New Year celebrations. Red presents joy, and this color also symbolizes virtue, truth and sincerity. One best and common example is the red diamond-shaped posters with the character 福(fú) which are displayed around the house and on doors. This sign is usually seen hanging upside down, since the Chinese word 倒 (dào), "upside down", sounds the same as 到 (dào), "arrive". Therefore, it symbolizes the arrival of luck, happiness, and prosperity.

Lucky Food Many of the dishes made at this time are served because they are regarded as symbols of good luck. For instance,  Turnips (菜(cài) 頭(tóu) ) mean “good omens,” Rice flour cake (年(nián) 糕(gāo) ), which is said to make people “advance toward higher positions and prosperity step by step. Dumplings (水(shuǐ) 餃(jiǎo) ), which look like shoe-shaped gold and are supposed to help those who eat them to amass fortunes and wealth. Fortune Cake", is made with wheat flour, water, sugar and leavened with yeast . Mandarin oranges (a symbol of wealth and good fortune). Uncut noodles (a symbol of longevity)

Happy Chinese New Year of Rabbit to all of you Please enjoy the Chinese New Year Greeting Cards and Chinese YoYo perfomed by Leo 謝(xiè) 謝(xie) Thank You!