|
| Adoption Resources |
|
Advertisers |
|
| |
| Back to Chinese New Year Activity Page
 | New Year Celebrations in China
|
|
Gong XI Fa Cai! Happy New Year! Sometimes known as Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the biggest and most important religious holiday.
Preparations start during the last days of the last moon (hence, the Chinese name, Lunar New Year). Houses are cleaned, debts repaid, gudges case aside, and new clothese bought. Incense is burned as a mark of respect to anscestors. The front door is hung with bright red scrolls printed with lucky sayings (couplets).
On Chu Xi (New Year's Ever), families gather for a feast which includes a variety of symbolic foods. In the south of China, sticky-sweet glutinous rice pudding called niangao is served, while in the north, the steamed dumpling, jiaozi, is popular. Following dinner, parents distribute lai si (money wrapped in red paper or envelopes) to children. Afterwards, a large fireworks display is held.
While the official holiday is only three days, the festival traditionally lasts until the 15th day of the lunar month. It ends with the climactic Lantern Festival, with large parades, lion and dragon dancers and lantern lined streets. |
| Back to Chinese New Year Activity Page
 |
| |
|
