As the name implies Chinese New Year is a depict a brand new year for the Chinese. It falls on the Chinese Lunar Calendar on the first month, “Yi Yue” (January), “Chu Yi” (1st). The celebration of Chinese New Year starts on the eve of it and it can last up to the fifteen of the chinese calendar (”Chu shi wu” meaning 15th). On the seventh of the chinese new year month, “Chu qi”, it is said that people are born on this day. It is called “Ren Ri”, meaning the day of people. On the last day of Chinese New Year, on the fifteen, “Chu shi wu”, it is said that this is the Chinese Valentine’s Day!

So much about the important days of the Chinese New Year, what do the chinese do on Chinese New Year? Chinese New Year is something that is celebrated once a year. Most people look forward to this day, especially children. Prior to the actual day, every house and family will decorate their homes with ‘red’ decorations and the chinese horoscope of that particular year. For instance, this year is the year of the pig and you can see places decorated with “Pigs”, and Chinese characters of prosperity “Fu”, spring “chun” and other “Chun lian”.

The celebration of Chinese New Year is associated with many ‘red’ objects. Houses are hang with red decorations that symbolizes wealth and luck. For example, there are red pineapples, red lanterns, red ribbons etc hanging at home and shop spaces as well. Most people want to welcome new year like that to have a good start of a brand new year. On this special occasion of Chinese New Year, married people would give out Hong Bao (red packets) with money enclosed to bring luck and wellness to the people. Parents give out red packets to the children to wish them good health , prosperity and progress in their studies or work. Married children give red packets to their aged parents for good health and luck as well. Red packets are exchanged and families visit each other on Chinese New Year.

Prior to Chinese New Year, the families decorate their homes and have their home tidy up. Old things are thrown away and they buy new things. On the eve of Chinese New Year, families get together for reunion dinner. Most people have steamboat on this day. While some people choose to eat at home, some others prefer to dine at restaurants. Normally after reunion dinner, families will receive their red packets and then there is chit chat session and playing of games, gambling — playing cards or watching shows or TV programmes together.

The types of food eaten on Chinese New Year is mostly fish, black moss, shark’s fins , which symbolise every year have excess — “nian nian you yu”. One of the typical Chinese New Year food is Yu Sheng. It involves people tossing all the different mixture together and then they will sit down and eat together.

The clothing of Chinese New Year is mostly red in colour. And most people will wear the typical Chinese ‘cheongsam’ or ‘qipao’. However, most people also wear other types of clothings as long as it suits them. Most people shop for new clothes on before Chinese New Year. On Chinese New Year, they will wear new clothes to visit their friends and families. Most people will wear red on Chinese New Year, though it is not a must. However, nobody would want to see people wearing black to visit them on Chinese New Year as it is consider not auspicious. On Chinese New Year, people wear new shoes too.

The celebration of Chinese New Year is global for the Chinese and the nation as well. The nation usually have a two days of public holidays. There are places such as Chinatown in Singapore where people can go there to experience the spirit of Chinese New Year. There, you can see selling of most Chinese New Year items. One of the common items for sale is plants. Chinese New Year plants come in a varieties and families love to decorate their home with plants and flowers. In most places, people would play Chinese New Year songs and they played fire crackers as well.

Lastly, the celebration of Chinese New Year must not go without mandarin oranges. Every family must have mandarin oranges. This is because when you visit families and friends for “Pai Nian”, you must bring two oranges with you. It is a symbol to bless them for a Happy New Year!

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