. Focus
on ... The Chinese New
Year  | New
Year's Fireworks, Hong Kong |
The
Chinese New Year of the Snake: 4699 Because the Chinese
calendar is a lunar calendar, there is no fixed date for it on our
Western calendar. But the New Year usually falls some time in late
January or early February. This year, the New Year comes
relatively early, on January 24th, which marks the Year of the Snake --
4699. Traditionally, the New Year celebrations actually begin
mid-month of the last month of the Chinese year and continue until
mid-month of the New Year, culminating with the Festival of
Lanterns. Gifts are given throughout the period, beginning with
the children on New Year's Day, and continuing with first family, then
neighbors. Depending on location, the festivities mark a holiday
from work that can last five to eight days, during which time usually
only entertainment businesses like theatres or restaurants remain open. | 16th
c. Chinese New Year Poster & 'Couplets' | 
| 
| 
| New
Year Poster, 16th c. CE
Yang Liu Qing | Wishes
for
Peace | Wishes
for
Prosperity |
The
color red is predominant -- from the wrappings of New Year's presents to
the doorposts and windows of Chinese homes -- supposedly adopted in
order to fend off the return of Nian, a legendary beast who
roamed the countryside and devoured unsuspecting souls on the eve of the
New Year. Nian, which now means simply 'year', is supposed
to be afraid of the color red. This desire to keep Nian at
bay is also what accounts for the firecrackers and fireworks displays
associated with the holiday. Red paper is also used, usually with
a gold trim, to write "New Year's couplets" {see images,
above}, most often composed with four Chinese characters wishing for
good fortune, health, longevity, etc. The couplets are then placed
in auspicious locations around the house, including the kitchen, the
doorway, and other living areas. Curiously, at least one of the
other customs associated with the Chinese New Year is somewhat
reminiscent of the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah -- customs of
atonement and reconciliation, as well as the settlement of all
debts. In addition, the days leading up to the New Year are also
used as a time to cleanse the house thoroughly, in order to rid oneself
of any ill-spirits that might be lingering about. Another
tradition of the holiday festivities is the Lion Dance {see image,
below}. The Lion parades through the streets and is offered greens
and gifts of money tied in red packets, which it takes the doorways of
homes and businesses and eats. The greens are then spit out to
insure a prosperous New Year. The
Twenty-Four Terms of the Chinese Year | | The
Chinese New Year marks the "Beginning of Spring," the
first of the twenty-four 'terms' of the year in the Chinese
Calendar. Each term is roughly 15 days long. | - Beginning
of Spring [begins late Jan. or early Feb.]
- Rain
Water [mid-February]
- Waking
of Insects [ early March]
- Spring
Equinox [ 20th or 21st Mar.]
- Pure
Brightness [ early April]
- Grain
Rain [ mid-April]
- Beginning
of Summer [ early May]
- Grain
Full [ mid- May]
- Grain
in Ear [ early June]
- Summer
Solstice [ 21st or 22nd June]
- Slight
Heat [ early July]
- Great
Heat [ mid- July]
- Beginning
of Autumn [ early August]
- Limit
of Heat [ mid- August]
- White
Dew [ early September]
- Autumnal
Equinox [ mid- September]
- Cold
Dew [ early October]
- Frost's
Descent [ mid-October]
- Beginning
of Winter [ early Nov.]
- Slight
Snow [ mid-November]
- Great
Snow [ early December]
- Winter
Solstice [ 22nd or 23rd Dec.]
- Slight
Cold [ early January], and
- Great
Cold [ mid-January]
| 
Lion
Dance Puppet |
|
