Unlike the Western Calendar which has the passing of the year as a fixed date each year, the Chinese calendar is based on a combination of solar and lunar movements with New Years being celebrated on the date of the second full moon after the winter solstice.
The misalignment of the solar and lunar cycles creates an imbalance over time which needs to be corrected by realigning the two calendars. Within any 19 year period, there are seven years where one month is added to maintain some form of alignment.
In addition to this cycle of realignment, from ancient times the Chinese have associated each year with an animal which they consider to be auspicious and the characteristics and traits of these animals are said to be imparted to any newborn. The list of revered animals is, starting with 2009; Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Boar and Rat.
Chinese New Year celebrations are heavily influenced by tradition and the Spring Festival, to give Chinese New Year its' more correct name is the holiday most celebrated during the year with family and friends gathering together to honour their ancestors with prayer and a banquet.
There are many customs associated with the celebration including the cleaning completely the home and the application of the principle of Feng Shui. Like their western counterparts, families stay up late and as the New Year approaches, all of the windows and doors are thrown open to let the old year depart along with any bad luck and to allow evil spirits to make way for good.
The welcoming of the changes in the seasons is represented symbolically by the use of flowers symbolizing that nature has reawakened. This symbolism extends to the use of fruits and candies representing prosperity and happiness; oranges and tangerines are traditionally placed around the dwelling and a tray of eight different types of candies made from lotus seeds, longan (a small juicy fruit), peanuts, coconut, cumquat, lychee (a small fruit with sweet flesh), red melon seeds, candied melon is commonly found in the main living area. Other decorations will be bright red and gold, both colours being associated with good fortune, and will include wall hangings wishing good luck and good fortune on all.
Aside from firecrackers which are an intrinsic part of any Chinese celebration, the Spring Festival is celebrated all around the globe by Chinese New Year Dragon Parades. The Dragon dance is a vital part of any Chinese New Year Celebration and the rich colours, drumming beat and its overall spectacle make it a must see event for Chinese and others alike. If you watch carefully, the Dragon, who is searching for wisdom and knowledge is actually following the Pearl of Wisdom which is atop a pole carried by the leader of the procession.
If you fancy holding your own celebration this Chinese New Years; it's never been easier. There are plenty of websites that can offer advice on recipes on creating your own Chinese banquet try the BBC webpages, and most fancy dress internet retailers have large selections of Chinese themed costumes and accessories. Chinese themed decorations are also becoming easier to source so it's never been easier to have a great Spring Festival or Chinese New Years celebration. Enjoy.
Karnival Costumes stocks a huge selection of Chinese themed fancy dress costumes and accessories, simply click on the following link; http://karnival-house.co.uk/acatalog/Chinese_New_Year_Celebrations.html
We stock a comprehensive range of Chinese themed costume accessories and decorations including wall hangings, buntings and much more. See them all by clicking the link: http://karnival-house.co.uk/acatalog/Chinese_Party_Goods.html Feel free to browse our website and purchase your costumes, accessories and decorations with confidence from one of the leading costume suppliers in the UK.
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Article submitted by: KV Sinclair. Keith Sinclair has over 35 years of business experience and in addition to being a part time University Lecturer on Business Studies, he is CEO of Cavalcade; a group of companies operating in the party sector. Cavalcade operates Karnival-House karnival-house.co.uk one of the UK's leading internet Fancy Dress Retailers. With massive stocks for immediate dispatch and an ever expanding range, Karnival-House continues to strive simply to offer outstanding service combined with outstanding value.
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