TO many people Chinese New Year is
little more than a novelty; a colourful celebration marked by firecrackers and
dancing Chinese dragons. But scratch the surface of what is one of China's
oldest festivals and you will find much more than food and festivities.
Here's what you need to know:
What is Chinese New
Year?
New Year is one of China's oldest
festivals. It marks the beginning of a new year and a new agricultural season,
and is considered a time for loved ones to reunite and take part in traditions
designed to bring good fortune for the next 12 months.
The noise and colour come from one of
the legends associated with the celebrations - that of the beast Nian, a
monster which would appear at the end of every year and attack people. Villagers
worked out that loud noise, bright lights and the colour red kept Nian at bay,
and so the seeds of Chinese New Year celebrations were sown.
When is Chinese New
Year?
Chinese New Year is held each year
between 21 January and 20 February. The main celebration will be held this year
on 31 January, although the festival will begin a day earlier. The Chinese
calendar's origins can be traced back as far as the 14th century BC. This
year's celebrations will mark the beginning of the year 4712 on the Chinese calendar.
The exact date of Chinese New Year is
determined by the lunisolar cycle. That means the calendar is based on exact
astronomical observations of the sun's longitude and moon phases, explains
the Time and Date website.
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