Today is Chinese New Year and it is one of the most important of the traditional festivals marking the end of the winter season. The Chinese calendar is lunisolar and each year is represented by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, and 2012 is the year of the Dragon.
A week of celebrations will start today with the main London celebrations taking place this weekend.
Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese New Year vary widely. People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also the tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of ‘good fortune’ or ‘happiness’, ‘wealth’ and ‘lomgevity’.
On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely
wish peace and happiness for everyone.
Why not take a break after studying English this week and join in the festivities? The main events will take place in and around Trafalgar Square on Sunday 29th January.
Chinese New Year Timings
- 10.15am: Parade starts on Rupert Street
- 11.30am: Parade finishes on Rupert Street
- 12noon:
Opening ceremony on main stage in Trafalgar Square, where Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Stanley Tse, President of Chinatown, will perform the Dotting of the Eye ceremony, which will bring the dragons and lions to life - 12noon-5.40pm:
Display by more than 100 performers, including the Chen Brothers - 5.40pm: Fireworks finale in Trafalgar Square
Tara xx
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