Chinese New Year 2010 : Tiger Year
Tomorrow, 14th February 2010, it’s not only a Valentine Day, but it marks the start of the Year of the Tiger on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Why ? Because some people in some countries and territories with significant Han Chinese populations, such as Mainland China , Hongkong, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand will celebrate Chinese New Year or Spring Festival or Lunar New Year. It is the longest and most important festivity in the Lunar Calendar.The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. All types of lanterns are lit throughout the streets and often poems and riddles are often written for entertainment.
There are some symbols that you may see during Chinese New Year. For examples is red envelope, called “hong bao” in Mandarin, or in Indonesian pronounciation is “ang pao” . The red envelopes filled with money are typically only given to children or unmarried adults with no job. If you’re single and working and making money, you still have to give the younger ones the hong bao money. The color red denotes good luck/fortune and happiness/abundance in the Chinese Culture and is often worn or used for decoration in other celebrations. Another one is the Dragon, it is present in many Chinese cultural celebrations as the Chinese people often think of themselves as descendants of the mythical creature.
To those who celebrate Chinese New Year, I only can say “Happy Chinese New Year, Gong Xi Fa Chai, Good Luck and Good Fortune for you “
