Chinese New Year is the most important traditional Chinese holiday in China. It is celebrated on the first day of the year of the Chinese calendar. In China, it is also known as the Spring Festival, the literal translation of the modern Chinese name 春节 (chun jie).
Chinese New Year Traditions
Within China, customs and traditions of Chinese new year celebrations vary widely. Usually, it is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. Dumplings are a traditional dish, which will be eaten around midnight. Chinese people believe that the shape of a Chinese dumpling is similar to ancient Chinese money. Hence, eating dumplings brings prosperity to the family.
It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly cleanse the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make space for new luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of “good fortune” or “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity.”
Of course, in China the fireworks cannot be missing. Chinese people love to light loud and colourful firecrackers during the entire Chinese New Year holiday to properly welcome the new year.
Horoscope
2014 will be the horse year and it is a time of fast victories, unexpected adventure, and surprising romance. It is an excellent year for travel, and the more far away and off the beaten path the better. Energy is high and production is rewarded. Decisive action, not procrastination, brings victory. But you have to act fast in a Horse year. If you are not 100% secure about a decision, then don’t do it. Events move so quickly in a Horse year that you don’t want to gallop off in the wrong direction.
Carpe Diem!
The MandaLingua Team wishes you a happy new year!