This Year February the 10th marks a new year in the zodiac calendar. It is the time period known to the whole world as Chinese New Year and in China as the ‘spring festival’. It is the most important traditional Chinese festival and is sometimes referred to as the ‘Lunar New Year’. It is the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar and runs up until the 15th of the month (Lantern Festival). This year welcomes the water Snake bidding farewell to the dragon.
It is celebrated by millions of particularly in countries with considerable Chinese population including; China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Mauritius, (most of these countries will have a public holiday on the day), as well as other countries with their respective Chinatowns. People celebrate in different ways depending on where they’re from. For example traditionally families would gather for an annual reunion often like western families do for Christmas. The home would be swept clean to get rid of any ill-fortune and red cards with phrases/ words like happiness, wealth or good fortune would decorate windows and doors. People would give each other red envelopes containing money especially to children; plus serve festive food to folks. They also often watch a parade in which traditional dances are performed often with a large colourful dragon being the main attraction. Finally more recently people set of fireworks as well as going on holiday with their families.
Each of the animals signifies a new year and Every 12 years the calendar starts again. According to the Chinese Zodiac The order of the animals is: Rat; Ox; Tiger: Rabbit; Dragon; Snake; Horse; Goat; Monkey; Rooster; Dog; and Pig. There a folktale about how this order was determined. Once upon a time, 12 animals bickered about the order of the cycle – all wanted to be the first. So they went to the jade emperor who was the ruler of all gods in Chinese mythology. He decided to hold a competition in which the all the animals would run across a river and their position in the race will determine their position in the cycle.
At first the Ox had taken the lead, so the clever Rat quickly jumped on to the Ox’s back unnoticed. Just as the Ox was about to win, the Rat jumped off his back and past the finish line winning the race and becoming the lead of the cycle. The Ox came second and the rest of the animals reached the bank one after the other in the order as mentioned above; thus creating the Chinese Zodiac calendar.
Chinese New year is no doubt one of the biggest festivals celebrated in the world, growing in popularity among the non-Chinese population as more people want to become involved in such a colourful and exciting festival.
