If the estimated of 155 million people travelling by train alone in China this New Year’s doesn’t impress you then how about the fact that it’s the year 4704 in the Chinese Calendar?Celebrations started today – well actually yesterday with the time change – all over China for the lunar New Year – the Year of the Boar (Pig) in the Chinese Zodiac. This is the end of the 12 year Zodiac cycle and also the end of a 60 year cycle which means it is also the year DingHai and therefore a Golden year. Given the odds it normally only happens once in anyone’s life time. Having said that I just realized this is my second but I was only 3 months old at the time so I can be forgiven not remembering much about it.
The celebration begins with the first new moon of the New Year and ends with the full moon 15 days later. As with most cultures there are traditions, taboos and superstitions; and its noticeable how many of the same traditions we observe in the west at New Years.
Hui Chun or luck messages are an important part of New Year's. As well as
hanging them in your home or office it’s a nice idea to send one to a friend.And of course everyone wants to know what’s in store for the New Year so Horoscopes are cast based on your Zodiac sign. You may want trying to find out your prospects for the Year of the Pig by going either here or here – or maybe cover all bases by going to both.
Though many of the traditions throughout the country are common there are variations from region to region. According to Chinese Television the celebrations in the South are of an “exuberant nature” while those of the North are “more austere.” Those decadent southerners! Since one of the Northern traditions is to eat Jiao Zi or steamed stuffed dumplings on the first day I’ll go with Beijing for the food and the exuberant South for almost everything else. Our friend Jack’s mother is a master Jiao Zi maker and I’m sure she has her own secret recipe but I did find this one on the Internet.
All good New Year’s celebrations have fireworks – in fact last night Laurent put his webcam up to the window and we watched the fireworks over Beijing together. Damn technology is wonderful! And though another piece of technology you might just want to create your own fireworks show for the Year of the Boar. 'Cause every once and a while we all need fireworks in our lives.
Xin Nein Kuai Li – Sun Nin Fy Lok**
** Happy New Year - Mandarin and Cantonese
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