Almost EVERYTHING about Chinese New Year

1 When and How long?

The Chinese New Year is the Jan. 1 on Chinese Lunar Month Calendar, which is made according to the moon. 

2014, the New Year is this coming Friday, Jan 31. 

Also, we'll call our New Year Spring Festival. It usually lasts from a week before New Year to Lantern Festival (Jan.15 of the lunar calendar.)

Pic from Internet

Take my family as an example, the whole family members are businessmen, working in countries all over the world. So we only gather together during the Spring Festival.

My parents will have a two-week break. They do nothing but have big meals, meet people and sleep, which are not very "Chinese."

All my friends in China are having their winter breaks.

2 What year?

In China, we have 12 animals to represent each year. 

2014 is the Horse Year. People who was born in 2002,1990,1988.., this is your year.

In China, wearing something red (usually underwear, socks ) in your year will give you luck the whole year!

So 1991 was Sheep Year, 1992 was Monkey Year, 1993 was Chicken year and so on.

3 What do we do?

The biggest thing for Chinese family is having a big dinner on the New Year's Eve. 

The Dinner has its name.

People usually have the dinner at home. But nowadays, going to restaurants is more convenient.

Since 1979, the national TV station (CCTV) has been running the Spring Festival Gala every year on New Year's Eve. So Chinese are used to watch the gala during the dinner.

The gala is well-prepared every year, though younger generation found it was not really interesting these years.

2013, Celine Dion was invited to sing in the Spring Festival Gala.(She was gorgeous!!)

Since my family lives in countryside, so we are allowed to set off fireworks. If you stay in my hometown on New Year's Eve, you'll be amazed by the fireworks at midnight (or annoyed..).

Hong Bao with Lucky Money

Kids can get Hong Bao with Lukcy Money from parents and relatives.

Cannot get Lukcy Money is the most unfortunate thing to be away from home during Spring Festival.

This is my face when I get Hong Baos.

Usually, you can get Lucky Money until you begin to earn money. 

Most parents will say they'll help you keep your Lucky Money when you are little, which means you'll never get it back.  I didn't realize the truth until my middle school!

Why Lucky Money?

In the Chinese legend, there was a monster call Nian (Year in English) or Sui(Age in English). The monsters only hurt kids during night. Somehow, someone found if they put money in red packets under the kids' pillows, the monsters could not hurt kids anymore.

Then it becomes a custom. (I'd say "Thank you, Nian or Sui monsters!")

4 What do we eat?

Well, it really depends.

In the north part of China, people eat dumplings (jiao zi). In my hometown, we prefer to eat rice balls( tang yuan), which means family reunion.

Almost every dish has its auspicious meaning.

 (Ignore the head..I was terrified every time I saw the heads.)

Fish sounds like Rest in Chinese. People wish they have extra money at the end of years.

Rice Cake (Nian Gao) means get promotion every year.

It can be any shape. This is a fish Rice Cake.

Nowadays, people tend to eat healthier during the Spring Festival. 

It is quite a lot to eat during the Spring Festival. In my hometown, everyone will invite all the relatives and friends to serve a big meal in fancy restaurants. So you'll have big meals twice each day basically, which means a lot of food.

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

PS: pictures are all from Internet.