Chinese New Year is a holiday that celebrates the beginning of a new year according to the Chinese lunar calendar. It is considered to be one of the most important holidays for Chinese families. The holiday is celebrated with big family gatherings, gift giving, eating of the symbolic foods and display of the festive decorations – all focused on bringing good luck for the new year and celebrating the coming of Spring. In China the lunar calendar is still used to determine traditional holidays like Chinese New year. Since the lunar calendar is based on the phases of the moon – which has a shorter cycle than the sun – Chinese New Year is never on the same day each year, but typically falls between January 21st and February 20th. Celebrations can actually last up to a month.
Cleaning House and New Clothes
Doing this is said to clear out any bad luck from the previous year and to make the house ready to accept good luck for the coming year. All cleaning must be finished before the New Year’s Day so there is no chance of accidentally throwing out the good fortune of the New Year. Wearing black is not allowed due to its association with death, however, wearing red is encouraged as the colour is associated with warding off bad spirits.
Decorating the House
Another popular custom is to hang up signs and posters on doors and windows with the Chinese word fu written on them, which means luck and happiness. Buying flowers for the home is also commonplace since they symbolize the coming of spring and a new beginning.
New Year's Eve Dinner
On the eve of the Chinese New Year it is customary to visit relatives and partake in a large dinner where a number of specific foods are served. It’s typical for a Chinese family to make eight to nine dishes for the New Year’s Eve Dinner, because in Chinese language the word “eight” means “prosperity” and the word “nine” means “long-lasting.”
Giving Good Luck Gifts
It is a traditional practice for adults to give children little red envelopes filled with money in order to symbolize wealth and prosperity for the coming year. It is also common for elders to present red packets to unmarried members of the family. Envelopes are not to be opened until the recipient has left the home of the giver.
Honouring the Animal
Every year is associated with one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. These animals are often represented in decorations. Some people believe that those born during the year of a particular animal may have the character traits of that animal.Chinese New Year is a time when the family should come together in order to give thanks for the year that has passed, and reinvigorate themselves for the coming year.
For you
Courtesy
Courtesy means excellence of manners or polite behaviour. It, of course, springs from good breeding and kindness of heart. A courteous man is pleasant and polite to everybody. He observes good manners on all occasions and always respects the feelings of others.
When people meet, they greet one another saying, "Good morning", or "Good evening", according to the time of the day. Muslims greet one another saying, "Aslam-o-Alaikum", and they often ask about one another's health and well being. A Muslim greeting is a kind of wish, a prayer for mutual happiness, peace and security. The Holy Quran lays much stress on this form of greeting in sura Al-Noor verse 61.
If you know two persons who happen to be strangers, it is your duty to introduce them to each other. If both are men, you introduce the younger to the elder: "Please meet my elder brother." If both are women, but one is married and the other single. You introduce the latter to the former. If one is a man and the other a woman, it goes without saying that you introduce the man to the woman, and not the other way round. You pronounce both names clearly if they are males and the two persons shake hands, saying, "How do you do?"
Good manners demand that you make no attempt to jump the queue. In a crowded bus, if you are physically fit, you give up your seat to an elderly person or to someone who is blind, disabled or sick. You have to say, "Thank you", to all who are good to you.
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