China Welcomes The Year of The Rooster
2017 is the Year of the Rooster, according to the Chinese Animal Zodiac cycle. Previous Rooster years are 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981 and 2005 and now 2017 is about to welcome a New Year for Chinese communities around the world.
The old year will be sent packing and the new one will be brought in with a bang…literally! Fireworks and traditional firecrackers will herald the start of the New Year and the louder the better. Firecrackers are thought to ward off evil spirits and demons and the louder they bang, the luckier the year is expected to be. Fireworks play a huge part in the New Year spectacle and dazzling displays are launched all over the world. It is also believed that the person launching the first firework of the New Year would be blessed with good luck.
Despite taking place in winter, the Chinese refer to the holiday as ‘Spring Festival’.
Chinese New Year marks the first day of the year in the Chinese calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar that we work to in the west. It is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year.
The Chinese New year celebrations last for two weeks and there is a rundown of what customs and traditions are observed on each of the days. There are quite a few superstitions surrounding this period, for example, on the third day people often stay at home in order to avoid any discord. The third day is deemed ‘day of the red mouth’ and in Chinese culture this signals a likelihood of quarrels and fights. An ominous day all round, it is frowned upon, often forbidden, to do certain things such as clean the house or start a fire.
Chinese heritage and culture in general is steeped in myth, legend and mystery and their New Year customs are no exception.
Homes are cleaned from top to bottom, signifying the removal of the old and welcoming the new. Houses are adorned with red decorations, lanterns and door gods.
Chinese families celebrate New Year in much the same way as many other countries, with a special dinner and then staying up most of the night. The ‘reunion’ dinner on New Year’s Eve is a long standing tradition and families make every effort to get home for this occasion, no matter where they are in the world. The dinner will be spent with good food and fish is often the dish of the day as it is considered lucky and supposed to signify good fortune for the year ahead.
As you will have seen from news coverage and the many images which have captured Chinese New Year celebrations, red is very prominent and believed to be an auspicious colour. Red lanterns are draped from houses, doors, offices and buildings galore.
Another Chinese tradition is the giving and receiving of red money envelopes for the New Year. These are generally given to children and this ancient custom has not escaped the digital age – apparently there are red envelope APPS to exchange cyber cash!
China is arguably one of the most fascinating and alluring countries in the world and it’s no surprise that visitors continue to flock to her shores in search of a taste of the Orient as well as excitement and adventure. This vast mystical land is a melting pot of cultures and ancient traditions and offers the discerning holidaymaker an experience they will never forget.
There’s so much to see and do and what better time to dive headlong into its treasures than during one of it’s most vibrant and dazzling seasons; Chinese New Year.
China as a holiday destination is becoming more popular. Ancient treasures and rhythms happily co-exist with modern day commodities and is fast becoming the place to visit for the trip of a lifetime.
Why not make the Year of The Rooster, the year you jet off for a holiday you’ll never forget. Have a look at these current deals brought to you by talkholiday… and don’t forget to tell us all about it! Remember to update your profile with your holiday plans for this year.