Are you always rushing around to get things done quickly? Are you flexible but stubborn? Is your lucky number 2,3 or 7? Is your colour brown and flower jasmine? You are typical of people born in the year of the Horse which starts on the 31st January this year and is celebrated for two weeks. The New Year is the most important part of the Chinese calendar and is called the “Spring Festival”.
While in the western world we celebrate Christmas mainly by eating, in China the meaning of the celebration of New Year is slightly different. They celebrate good luck and good health and as such the food on the table is different. The Chinese eat long noodles for longevity in the coming year, dumplings typically wrapped in the shape of an ancient boat-shaped coin, and for good luck the food on the table should be red as it scares away evil spirits, so red spices are added to the food.
Preparations for the Spring Festival start seven days before the New Year when the house is cleaned from top to bottom in order to sweep away any bad luck accumulated in the past year. Then the clean house is decorated with red lanterns, lots of flowers, especially lotus as it’s considered the flower of rebirth. Fruit bowls are dotted around the house, but there must be an even number for luck. When visiting relatives or friends you give red envelopes with money inside to encourage saving in the coming year.
It’s not a good idea to try to travel around China during the Spring Festival, it’s difficult to get seats on trains as it seems as if the whole country is on the move back home to celebrate with the family. But if you are planning a visit to China over the coming months, do check www.ReadyClickAndGo.com for a great range of private day trips and sightseeing tours in China!
Happy Chinese New Year of the Horse!
Gong Hei Fat Choi!
