All about Lunar New Year !!

Here is a ' Copy-Paste ' of a newsletter by 'APAC Diversity and Inclusion ' on 'Lunar new Year' circulated in my office mailbox. It is a neat compilation of all that you would like to know about this most important festival of the Chinese. Please read an let me know if you are able to draw any resemblance to any of the festivals that you celebrate or mythologies ( ? ) in the religion you practice.  Happy reading :)

How did the Lunar New Year come about?   

The most important holiday for the Chinese around the world is undoubtedly Lunar New Year and it all started out of fear. The origins of the New Year celebration vary – one of the stories included a terrible, mythical, lion-like monster called 'Nián'; ( the Chinese word for "year") who preyed on villagers.   A wise old man counselled the villagers to ward off the evil Nián by making loud noises with drums and firecrackers and hanging red paper cut-outs and scrolls on their doors because the Nián was scared of the color red.  The villagers took the old man’s advice and the Nián was conquered. On the anniversary of the date, Chinese people recognize the “passing of the Nián" ; which is synonymous with celebrating the New Year.

The Origins of the Chinese Zodiac

Ancient folk stories on the origin of the Chinese Zodiac include the tale of the Jade Emperor who summoned the animals to the palace for a meeting. The 12 animals that were summoned headed to the palace and the order that they arrived determined the order of the Chinese Zodiac. The order is as follows:
Rat:        1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Ox:        1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Tiger:     1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Rabbit:   1951, 1963, 1975. 1987, 1999, 2011
Dragon:  1952, 1964, 1976. 1988, 2000, 2012
Snake:    1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Horse:    1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Goat:      1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
Monkey: 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
Chicken: 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
Dog:       1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
Pig:         1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

2014 is the year of the Horse. Those born in this year are said to be optimistic, intelligent, fashionable and charming.

The meaning behind some of the significant days in the 15-day Lunar New Year celebration:

Eve A reunion dinner is held where family members get together to celebrate and count down to the beginning of a new lunar year.

First Day The festival begins at midnight with the welcoming of deities of the heavens and earth. It is a traditional practice to light fireworks, burn bamboo sticks and firecrackers and to make as much of a din as possible to chase away the evil spirits. Most importantly, the first day is a time to honor one's elders and families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended families.

Second Day The second day is traditionally a time for married women to visit their birth parents and relatives with their families.

Third Day It is considered unlucky to have guests or go visiting on the third day, as it is believed that evil spirits roam the earth this day. This is considered a propitious day to visit the temple of the God of Wealth and have one's future told.

Fifth Day The day is regarded as the birthday of the God of Wealth. In northern China, people eat dumplings on the morning of this day

Seventh Day The seventh day, known as the rén rì ,is considered the birthday of all common men and everyone grows one year older. In many Chinese communities, it is the day when tossed raw fish salad – yú sheng is eaten. This dish is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor.

Fifteenth Day The day marks the first full moon after the New Year, also known as yuán xiāo jié or Lantern Festival day. It is customary to eat special sweet dumplings called yuán xiāo resembling the shape of the full moon.

Did you know ?

• It is considered bad luck to use the broom on the first day of Lunar New Year as it 'sweeps away' good luck.  
• Fish is usually served during the Lunar New Year eve’s reunion dinner, but intentionally not finished, to symbolize ' be blessed every year'.
• Red packets are given by the elders to the younger generation during Lunar New Year; the amount of money is always an even number, very often ending with 8