Chinese New Year's Day is the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar. But the date is different each year on the Gregorian (internationally-used) calendar, between January 21th and February 20th. In 2016 it's Monday February 8th.
I was opportune to watch the live band today Friday February 19th, at Beacon House Newlands International School to pick up my son. It was a day the school welcome the annual New Year Parade by colourful dragon like masquerades to mark the celebration of the Year of the Monkey.
Enjoy the video recorded at the event
Officially only the first three days of Chinese New Year (February 8–10, 2016) are statutory holiday. Chinese New Year's Eve and three more days are always added to give seven consecutive days of holiday. These four extra days are taken from weekends: the two weekend days closest to the statutory holiday are included, while the Saturday before (February 6, 2016) and the Sunday after (February 14, 2016) are worked.
The below photos shows the Principal and members of staffs in Beacon House Newlands International School, Cheras branch Kuala Lumpur.
Photo showing the Masquerade in action
Principal and members of staffs taking photo with Masquerade
Traditionally celebrations start much earlier than Chinese New Year's Eve. Some people start to celebrate three weeks before, the 8th day of the twelfth Chinese month More people celebrate from the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month (January 31, 2016). They start to clean the house to welcome a new year from then.
Traditionally the end day of the Spring Festival is the fifteenth day of the first Chinese month, February 22, 2016 — the Lantern Festival. Chinese make all kinds of beautiful lanterns and eat sweet glutinous rice balls in sweet soup.
Watch video of Masquerade dance in the school auditorium.
2016 — A Monkey Year
Chinese New Year 2016 will be a year of the Monkey. For people born in a year of the monkey (1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004), 2016 is considered a bad year. See How to Avoid Bad Luck in 2016 If You're a Monkey.
"Monkeys" are witty, intelligent and have a magnetic personality. Read more on the personality, career, and love suggestions for those born in Monkey years, and for other Chinese zodiac calendar.
Celebrating a New Working Year and Praying for Good "Harvests"
Lion danceLion dances are a popular Chinese New Year activity.
According to China's traditional solar calendar, which dictates the lunar calendar, the first Chinese "month" is called 'start of Spring'. The farming cycle is set to start some time after this, but it really depends on the location in China. The ground doesn't thaw in some places until March.
During the Spring Festival, Chinese traditionally celebrate the start of a new year of farm work, and wish for a good harvest. This has now evolved to celebrating the start of a new business year and wishing for profits and success in various vocations.
There are also many legends about Chinese New Year, which attempt to provide an origin for several Chinese New Year practices. See the Top 3 Chinese New Year Legends.
Credit: chinahighlights.com
No comments:
Post a Comment