January 31st signifies the start of the 16-day celebration of the Chinese New Year. This year over 2 billion people will praise the ancient Chinese Zodiac, The Tiger. Although the Lunar New Year falls on a different date every year it is celebrated for roughly 16 consecutive days. It’s on the 15th day that the Shangyuan Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival, takes place, representing the final day of the celebrations.
Typical events that take place during the two weeks of festivities include family banquets, outdoor spectacles such as light shows and fireworks. With some people traveling hundreds of miles to celebrate the new year with loved ones. Houses are decorated with red; the colour of good luck and children are often given money in red envelopes. It has been estimated that around 820bn yuan (£96bn) is spent during this period on shopping and dining during the celebration.
The Chinese New Year is recognised around the global, with street parades taking place through many towns and streets. In the UK Manchester is the epicentre of the festival. With a 53m-long dragon marching its way through the streets towards the city’s Chinatown, the UK’s oldest and largest Chinese communities. Similarly, in New York some 600,000 firecrackers are exploded in the Firecracker ceremony held in Sara D Roosevelt Park and parades are held in the streets of Chinatown there also.
The Tiger known as king of all beasts and placed third in the Zodiac order. Common associations with the tiger zodiac are “bravery, courage and strength”. It is said that people born in the year of the tiger are enthusiastic, ambitious and make good leaders. Lucky colours related to the tiger are blue, orange and grey and the numbers 1,3 and 4 are also particularly significant to those born under the tiger.
新年好 / 新年好 (Xīn nián hǎo), we hope you can enjoy the festivities and the new year ahead!!
With kisses from Pd Dolly Lisa Sinead @prettydisturbia xxx #prettydifferentprettydisturbia