ChineseNewYear(中国农历新年)

　　TheChineseNewYearhasagreathistory.Inothertraditions,bythistimeintheyear,mostresolutions-madeonDecember31-havebeensubtlyforgottenandplacedinacupboardmarked"maybenextyear."However,allhopeisnotlost,asthere'sasecondchancetostartafreshwiththecelebrationofChineseNewYearonFebruary12th.

　　TheChineseNewYearisverysimilartotheWesternone,swathedintraditionsandrituals.

　　TheoriginoftheChineseNewYearisitselfcenturiesold-infact,toooldtoactuallybetraced.ItispopularlyrecognisedastheSpringFestivalandcelebrationslast15days.

　　PreparationstendtobeginamonthfromthedateoftheChineseNewYear(similartoaWesternChristmas),whenpeoplestartbuyingpresents,decorationmaterials,foodandclothing.Ahugeclean-upgetsunderwaydaysbeforetheNewYear,whenChinesehousesarecleanedfromtoptobottom,tosweepawayanytracesofbadluck,anddoorsandwindowpanesaregivenanewcoatofpaint,usuallyred.Thedoorsandwindowsarethendecoratedwithpapercutsandcoupletswiththemessuchashappiness,wealthandlongevityprintedonthem.

　　TheeveoftheNewYearisperhapsthemostexcitingpartoftheevent,asanticipationcreepsin.Here,traditionsandritualsareverycarefullyobservedineverythingfromfoodtoclothing.Dinnerisusuallyafeastofseafoodanddumplings,signifyingdifferentgoodwishes.Delicaciesincludeprawns,forlivelinessandhappiness,driedoysters(orhoxi),forallthingsgood,rawfishsaladoryushengtobringgoodluckandprosperity,Fai-hai(AngelHair),anediblehair-likeseaweedtobringprosperity,anddumplingsboiledinwater(Jiaozi)signifyingalong-lostgoodwishforafamily.It'susualtowearsomethingredasthiscolourismeanttowardoffevilspirits-butblackandwhiteareout,astheseareassociatedwithmourning.Afterdinner,thefamilysitupforthenightplayingcards,boardgamesorwatchingTVprogrammesdedicatedtotheoccasion.Atmidnight,theskyislitupbyfireworks.

　　Onthedayitself,anancientcustomcalledHongBao,meaningRedPacket,takesplace.Thisinvolvesmarriedcouplesgivingchildrenandunmarriedadultsmoneyinredenvelopes.Thenthefamilybeginstosaygreetingsfromdoortodoor,firsttotheirrelativesandthentheirneighbours.LiketheWesternsaying"letbygonesbebygones,"atChineseNewYear,grudgesareveryeasilycastaside.

　　TheendoftheNewYearismarkedbytheFestivalofLanterns,whichisacelebrationwithsinging,dancingandlanternshows.

　　AlthoughcelebrationsoftheChineseNewYearvary,theunderlyingmessageisoneofpeaceandhappinessforfamilymembersandfriends.

　　(chinese.new-year.co.uk)

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　　Mid-AutumnFestival(中秋节)

　　ThejoyousMid-AutumnFestival,thethirdandlastfestivalfortheliving,wascelebratedonthefifteenthdayoftheeighthmoon,aroundthetimeoftheautumnequinox.Manyreferredtoitsimplyasthe"FifteenthoftheEighthMoon".IntheWesterncalendar,thedayofthefestivalusuallyoccurredsometimebetweenthesecondweekofSeptemberandthesecondweekofOctober.

　　Thisdaywasalsoconsideredaharvestfestivalsincefruits,vegetablesandgrainhadbeenharvestedbythistimeandfoodwasabundant.Withdelinquentaccountssettledpriortothefestival,itwasatimeforr