One of the popular festivals and events in China is New Year in China. New Year in China begins with the New Moon on the first day of the New Year and ends on the full moon 15 days later.
The Chinese celebrate the 15th day of the new year as the Lantern Festival. The major feature of this festival is lantern exhibits. Children also indulge in the fun and enjoyment by carrying lanterns in a colorful parade.
The Chinese follow both lunar and solar movements. According to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date every year. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are a time of togetherness and showing respect to each other. New Year in China was earlier observed with a religious ceremony to revere both Heaven and Earth, household gods and the ancestors of the family.
Sacrifices are offered to the departed souls and this is the most important aspect of the major rituals of the New Year in China. The descendants of the family come together to offer prayers and sacrifices for their departed ancestors. The ancestors are remembered with great respect and pride. The forefathers are held responsible for bringing glory and prosperity for the family.
Dinner arrangements are made on Chinese New Year to venerate the departed souls of the ancestors. The spirits of the ancestors together with the living members celebrate the coming of the New Year in China as one whole community. The most attractive feature of the New Year in China is the communal feast which is called "surrounding the stove" or weilu. This feast represents close familial ties and honors the past and present traditions. Red packets are circulated during the Reunion dinner.
New Year in China was believed to have started with month 1 during the Xia Dynasty, month 12 during the Shang Dynasty and month 11 during the Zhou Dynasty. However records state that the Zhou Dynasty started its year with month 1. The first emperor of China Qin Shi Huang changed the beginning of the year to month 10 in 221 BC. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty affirmed month 1 as the beginning of the year. And this has been religiously followed till date.
travel.mapsofworld.com offers complete information on New Year in China.
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