Friday, January 27, 2012: 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Saturday, January 28, 2012: 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Sunday, January 29, 2012: 12:00pm -7:00pm
Saturday, January 28, 2012: 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Sunday, January 29, 2012: 12:00pm -7:00pm
Chinese Tradition
History of Chinese New YearThe origin of the Chinese New Year is centuries old - in fact, too old to actually be traced. It is popularly recognized as the Spring Festival and celebrations last 15 days. Preparations tend to begin a month from the date of the Chinese New Year (similar to a Western Christmas), when people start buying presents, decoration materials, food and clothing. A huge clean-up gets underway days before the New Year, when Chinese houses are cleaned from top to bottom to sweep away any traces of bad luck. Doors and windowpanes are given a new coat of paint, usually red. The doors and windows are then decorated with paper cuts and couplets with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity printed on them.
The eve of the New Year is the most exciting part of the event, as anticipation creeps in. Traditions and rituals are very carefully observed in everything from food to clothing. Dinner is usually a feast of seafood and dumplings, signifying different good wishes. On the day itself, an ancient custom called Hong Bao or Lycee, meaning Red Packet, takes place. This involves married couples giving children and unmarried adults money in red envelopes. Then the family begins to say greetings from door to door, first to their relatives and then to their neighbours. The celebration of the New Year ends on the 15th day of the New year and is marked by the Festival of Lanterns, which is a celebration with singing, dancing and lantern shows. Although celebrations of the Chinese New Year vary, the underlying message is one of peace and happiness for family members and friends for the year to come.
Chinese Zodiac
Rabbit - 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011Dragon - 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
Snake - 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
Horse - 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
Ram - 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
Monkey - 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
Rooster - 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
Dog - 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
Boar - 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
Rat - 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Ox - 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Tiger - 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Click on each zodiac for more information about each sign.