A History of the Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year is the most important Chinese celebrations and begins on the first day of the first lunar month and proceeds for fifteen days. The Chinese New Year is not only restricted to China but is celebrated throughout Asia. The Twelve-year animal zodiac and ten year heavenly stems Cycles also coincide with the Chinese New Year.
The myth of how the Chinese New Year began is thought to originate from villagers protecting themselves from the monster Nian, or Year. On the first day of the New Year, Nian would come to eat what ever and whom ever it could. Villagers would leave food out hoping to satiate its hunger. Nian was also scared by the color red so red lanterns were hung to frighten it away. The current New Year stems from the celebration of the banishment of this beast.
There is a huge amount of travel that occurs during this time as the Chinese New Year is a time to visit all of your relatives. Homes are extensively cleaned to sweep away last years bad luck and welcome in the New Years good luck. Many other actions such as getting a new haircut are a celebration of the new start.
The first day of the Chinese New Year welcome sin the deities of earth and the heavens. Most individuals do not eat meat during this time. Most food is cooked the day before as the use of knives and fires are thought to bring bad luck. The first day is also when the family will visit the oldest or most senior members of their family. During the second day of the New Year the married daughter will visit her birth parents. Individuals also pray to the god and ancestors and also celebrate dogs.
The third and fourth day has no traveling as these days are more prone to arguments. As well as being disrespectful to any relatives that may have had loved ones pass away over the past few years. The fifth day celebrated the Chinese god of wealth and dumplings, symbols of wealth, are eaten.
The seventh day is the commons man birthday and it is on this day that everyone turns one year older. Traditionally a raw fish salad is consumes. On the ninth day individuals will pray to the Jade Emperor of Heaven, as this is his birthday. Offerings of sugarcane are made and tea is drunk to honor a particular chosen individual. On the fifteenth day or last day of the New Year. Is the lantern festival where candles are lit outside homes to guide spirits home.