It’s Chinese New Year and people across China and the world are celebrating!
The Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is based on the Lunisolar Chinese calendar and celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day.
Celebrations yesterday and today included traditional lion, dragon and folk dances, fireworks and firecrackers, red lanterns, temple visits and incense burning as well as flower markets to mark the arrival of spring. Red envelopes of money are also traditionally given to children and single people.
This year is the Year of the Rabbit. The rabbit is the fourth in a cycle of 12 animals representing the Chinese zodiac and follows the tiger. In China, the rabbit is particularly associated with the moon. Many believe those born in a Year of the Rabbit (1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999) will have lots of good luck this year.
Predictions abound about what this Year of the Rabbit will bring. Some say it will be a quiet and calm year of unhurried pace, discretion and diplomacy. Others are predicting quite the opposite with lots of turmoil and conflict. Either way…
Happy Chinese New Year to all celebrating![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]