2007-02-18 16:51:04 · 7 answers · asked by jrealitytv 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.
The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-yearcycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.
New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.
The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.
The presence of the ancestors is acknowledged on New Year's Eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great community. The communal feast called "surrounding the stove" or weilu. It symbolizes family unity and honors the past and present generations.
2007-02-18 17:21:29 · answer #1 · answered by JoAnn 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Chinese calendar is different from the English calendar, the Jewish calendar is different from either, the Mayan calendar is also different. Each culture has its own starting point for logging the chronological passage of time. Chinese New Year marks the beginning of the new year on the Chinese calendar. This year, the year of the Pig, is especially auspicious for children born during the year, but is supposed to be tumultuous for the rest of us.
2007-02-18 16:54:59 · answer #2 · answered by old lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Chinese New Year is a time when a new year comes. This year is the year of the pig. Last year was the year of the dog, so CNY (Chinese New Year) welcomes the new year of the pig.
2007-02-18 16:56:07 · answer #3 · answered by lovinmylife 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if ur not chinese u shouldnt really worry about it. but i'll tell u anyway.
u know how theres a NEW YEAR on Dec. 31? its about the same thing, only its in February and its not rly a 'year' passing, but actually counted in animals... now its pig year or w/e the appropriate name for it is.. there are 12 'years', i.e. animals...
u dress up and eat all u want and go to ppl's houses where they'll givve u GIFTS. thats truly exciting
2007-02-18 16:56:50 · answer #4 · answered by hopeful2010 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
What is American New Year about?
2007-02-18 16:53:58 · answer #5 · answered by bittersweet 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
well, this year it's about ushering in the "pig" year and of course doing our best to become rich.
2007-02-18 18:23:26 · answer #6 · answered by Annmaree 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GONG XI FA CAI !!!!!!!
2007-02-18 17:37:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋