Chinese New Year Top Status, Wishes, Cards, & Greetings
Chinese New Year is the lunar calendar’s New Year, which falls on the first day of the new Chinese lunar calendar. It is celebrated on the evening of the seventh day of the Chinese lunar calendar, called the lunar new year. Many cities around North America also host major parades for Chinese New Year celebrations. Among the largest cities with these parades are San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, Chicago, Mexico City, Toronto, Vancouver, and Hong Kong. The event is often equate with the start of the Chinese lunar calendar year, which falls in the late part of the Chinese lunar calendar.
The lunar new year is also sometimes linke with the traditional New Year’s celebration in the UK. This is not related to the Chinese lunar calendar at all, but to the full moon of February as this is the only natural occurrence that occurs throughout the year. It is not a coincidence that the two events share many of the same components. In both cases, the festivities mark the return of the year to an atmosphere of joy and renewal, as well as the start of another Chinese lunar year.
Both celebrations have much in common. Both mark the return of life to what was thought to be the far side of the universe, called the “Ferris wheel.” During the Chinese lunar new year, the earth is said to be spinning too fast, sending a fearful blow against those on the earth. The symbol for this blow, the dragon, is also related to the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun. The symbol for a joyful new year in the western calendar, the star, is use in both traditions to mark the beginning of a new year.
One of the biggest differences between the two dates is the time of year. The lunar new year is always closer to the spring equinox when the days and nights are the clearest and short. This creates a perfect day for enjoying family activities and getting out into the community to see what everyone has been up to. For the Chinese, this is the most joyous time of the year, since they believe that the spirits of their ancestors are looking back upon them and celebrating their good fortune. The western calendar’s New Year’s Day is usually around the middle of January when it is a long weekend with no public holiday. Many families host their own New Year’s party and enjoy a wide variety of dinner parties and other events before, during, and after the New Year’s Eve celebration.
While the Chinese believe the lunar new year’s date is significant, the New Year’s Day celebration in the west has little significance for the Chinese. They consider January 1st to be a new beginning, as well as the start of the Spring Festival, which is their national holiday. They mark this event by preparing food and dishes from fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, and poultry, which is abundant during that time. They also decorate their homes with fresh flowers, fruits, banners, and lanterns.
Many Chinese celebrate the lunar new year on the ancient lunar calendar, which is different from the Gregorian calendar use by westerners. They also mark significant milestones such as the new moon, full moon, crescent moon, and half moon. They also have a tradition of visiting their ancestral shrines, which are special places held sacred by the people of China. These celebrations prove that the lunar new year holds important and mystical significance to the Chinese people, just as it does to us.