Chinese Year of the Tiger

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This Sunday the theme is orange and black for the Chinese New Year, as we begin the year of the tiger.

Chinese New Year, or the Lunar New Year as it is also known, is the longest and most important festivity in the Lunar Calendar, and is steeped in myth and tradition. The customs vary significantl regionally in the celebration of Chinese New Year, however just like Christians do with Christmas, people expend a great deal of time and of course money in purchasing presents, decorations, food and clothes for the celebrations. The ritual of thoroughly cleaning the house is also widely observed.

The Chinese people clean their houses to sweep away any bad luck and get it ready for the good luck coming in the New Year and as with most celebrations food is a major part of the festivities. The whole family will gather together to have a huge feast which includes food such as roast duck, chicken, seafood, steamed fish and vegetables, finishing with Chinese sweets.

Unlike celebrations for the our New Year, Chinese New Year celebrations last for15 days and on New Year’s Day families will visit their relatives and exchange gifts. Apparently children will greet their parents and elders early in the morning and wish them good health. In return parents will get a red packet, with money inside, from married elders in the family.

It is a tradition for raw fish and salad to be eaten on the seventh day of the celebrations, sweet delicacies on the ninth day and vegetarian food on day 13, in the hope that it will clean out the stomach.