|
 For
centuries, the celebration of a New Year has marked a time of
rebirth and renewal in Chinese culture. Of
all the traditional Chinese festivals, the new year has always been
the most important, elaborate, and colorful
traditional part of ancient Chinese culture.
The
Chinese New year is celebrated on the first day of the First Moon of
the lunar calendar.
Around the world on February 9th, we say goodbye to the Year of the
Monkey and celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Rooster.
The New
Year or "Spring Festival", just like the Western New Year, signifies
turning over a new leaf. It's a time for family reunions, and for
visiting friends and relatives. This
holiday, more than any other Chinese holiday, stresses the
importance of family ties. The Chinese New year's Eve dinner
gathering is among the most important family occasions of the year.
The
lunar calendar is represented by twelve animals: rat, ox, tiger,
rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar.
An old Chinese legend tells of Buddha inviting all
the animals of his kingdom to appear for him. On that particular day
of the Chinese new year only twelve animals showed up. The first one
entering was; The Rat followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon,
Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Cock, Dog and finally the Pig. To show
his gratitude Buddha decided to name a year after each of the
animals and people who are
born in one of these years would inherit some of their
characteristics.
The
twelve animal years and birth years
|
RAT
1936
1948
1960
1972
1984 |
OX
1937
1949
1961
1973
1985 |
TIGER
1938
1950
1962
1974
1986 |
RABBIT
1939
1951
1963
1975
1987 |
DRAGON
1940
1952
1964
1976
1988 |
SNAKE
1941
1953
1965
1977
1989 |
|
HORSE
1942
1954
1966
1978
1990 |
SHEEP
1943
1955
1967
1979
1991 |
MONKEY
1944
1956
1968
1980
1992 |
ROOSTER
1945
1957
1969
1981
1993 |
DOG
1946
1958
1970
1982
1994 |
BOAR
1947
1959
1971
1983
1995 |
*
* *
Celebrations around the Lower Mainland include the annual Sunbrite
Lunar New Year Festival to be held February 4-8 at the Pacific
Coliseum where participants can enjoy exhibition booths and
entertainment.
Lansdowne Centre in Richmond will
also be hosting similar festivities from Feb 9-13.
Chinatown in Vancouver will
celebrate on Feb. 13.
This festive coming-together of families will celebrate legend of
long ago – particularly, as one tale recounts, the “chasing away” of
a feared monster named Nien that had terrorized villages throughout
China.
 To mark the occasion, festivities will include feasting, the
presentation of red lai see packets to children, traditional lion
dances and the hanging of lanterns – all in an effort to chase out
bad luck and bad spirits, and wish luck and good fortune to everyone
for the coming year.
In addition, the much-anticipated Chinese New Year parade will fill
the streets of Chinatown during this celebration, which is expected
to attract some 50,000 onlookers.
At
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s Classical Chinese Garden, an annual public
celebration of Chinese New Year is rung in with style featuring
music, dance, martial arts demonstrations, fortune telling and
hands-on traditional crafts. It’s a celebration of a New Year and
wishes for another season of good fortune.
www.vancouverchinesegarden.com
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