Chinese New Year

                Chinese New Year is an important traditional Chinese holiday. The Chinese New Year is often referred to as the “Lunar New Year.” Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally ran from Chinese New Year's Eve, the last day of the last month of the Chinese calendar and it continues on for 15 days. This long Chinese New Year is meant for Chinese all around the World to go back to their hometown and celebrate with their families. The evening preceding Chinese New Year is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for an annual reunion dinner.

                The Chinese New Year does not have a fixed date. It changes every year according to the lunisolar Chinese calendar. This calendar is also used in counties that have been influence by Han Dynasty, notably the Koreans and Japanese.

                Few days before the Chinese New Year are the traditional for every family to clean the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and welcome good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper cuts with popular themes of good fortune, longevity, wealth, happiness, and luck. Other activities include wearing new clothing, giving money in red paper envelopes, lighting firecrackers, parade and candles are lighted during prayers. The first day is for the welcoming of the deities of the heavens and earth, officially beginning at midnight.  It is a traditional practice to light fireworks, burn bamboo sticks and firecrackers to chase off bad sprits. The second day of the Chinese New Year, known as kāinián, beginning of the year “was when married daughters visited their birth parents, relatives and close friends. The third day is known as Chìkǒu directly translated as "red mouth". Incense is burned at the graves of ancestors as part of the offering and prayer ritual.