Chinese New Year in 2010

This year’s Chinese New Year was on February 14th, (the year of tiger), but Chinese New Year is not only “a one day thing”, it is one week before and after the New Year. Chinese people started buying things a week early and preparing for the coming year. Everything was related to luck, like red bags and using number eight (means “will earn a lot” in Chinese).

28th of the last month:

Starting with the 2nd last day of the year (28th of the 12th month, 年廿八). It is the day where people would use one of the fruit’s leaves to shower, believing that it will wash away their bad luck and replaced by good luck for the coming year.

Image : of the leaves we use to shower and the red bag is a sign of luck.

29th/ 30th of the last month (2nd or last day of the year):

These are the days where everyone in the family and friends gathers together to have dinner together. They would have eight dishes on the table (eight means rich).

Image one and two : of the dinner with family and friends with eight dishes.

New Year Week

Everyone would greed others (gong xi fa cai) and would receive red bags with money inside for good luck. People would wear red that day. Another special thing is that they would have sweets, and other food set on the table for guests. People will not have work till the 4th day of the New Year.

Image : an image of the sweets and other food set on the table ready for guests.

Image :  Different designs of red bags are given and received from others.

The Last Day (7th of the New Year)

The 7th day of Chinese New Year is “ren ri” (人日), which means it is everyone’s birthday. Everyone will be one year older counting in the Chinese years.

Chinese New Year the biggest holiday in the year for Chinese people; we celebrate it more than we do with other holidays.