Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year or Spring Festival commences on the first day of the first month of Chinese calendar and is the most important festival for the Chinese.
The Chinese will travel back to their hometowns to celebrate this auspicious festival which will last for fifteen days. They will spend their money to purchase presents, decorations, food, and clothing for their families. Every Chinese family cleans the house to sweep away bad luck to make way for good fortune as according to Chinese believe. On New Year’s Eve each family will gather together to have a feast. Food eaten will be pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. During the festive season they will visit their relatives and friends. It is customary for married couple to give ang-pou (red packet that contains money inside) to those children or those who are not married yet as a tradition.
According to Chinese mythology, a mythical beast called Nien would come on the first day to devour livestock, crops and villages especially children. Initially to protect themselves, they would put food in front of their house and the Nien would eat it and not harm them. At one time, the villages saw that the Nien would be frightened of a child wearing red. The villages take advantage of this weakness and hang red laterns and spring scrolls on windows and doors. The villages also light firecrackers to scare away the Nien. From that time on , the Nien never visit the village again. The Nien was finally captured by Hongjun Laozu, a Toaist monk.
Normally the Chinese New Year festival would fall on January or February each year. Well Chinese New year for this year will be on the 3rd and 4th of February. Happy Chinese New Year folks!!! And happy feasting!!!
