Chinese follow the lunar calendar. The most important event in the year is
the spring festival: celebration starts on the New Year's day. The day is
celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, the day
of the second new moon following the day of the winter solstice. The festivities
end with the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of that month. ... I don't
know how clear that is to you; I admit it took me a while to understand!
The festival's origin goes back thousands of years ago. There are many
legends and traditions linked to it. The most famous legend is the "Nian
monster" 年兽 legend. It is said, people used to believe the beast would devour
people on New Year's Eve. To scare the monster away, people pasted red coloured
couplets, on their front doors, and walls, lit red torches and burst loud
firecrackers throughout the night.
New
Year's Eve customary family reunion dinners are held where family members from
near and far try to join in the dinner celebrations. Try and imagine the MESS in
train stations, airports.... Picture the whole European Union population
migrating at the same time..
On
the New Year day gifts are exchanged among the family. The fifteenth day marks
the Lantern Festival where people carry red lanterns and participate in the
lantern parade. I am quite lucky to be in Nanjing, we have one of the most
beautiful places for the lantern parade I was told: our Confucius temple (my
favourite place in Nanjing)
I
will take many photos and videos.
On
the New Year's Day, I have offered my help at my fathers restaurant because they
really really could use a hand. He happily accepted it! So I shall celebrate
with my sister, parents, brother and the staff. (My aunt is going back to her
countryside hometown in 2 days) .
We
all have bought new clothes. It is a tradition here. My Chinese mother likes my
dress and heels very much! I shall wear the new outfit on New Year's Day.
