Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.It is sometimes called the "Lunar New Year" by English speakers. The festival traditionally begins on the first day on the first month .Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Lunar Calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions.Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese new year vary widely.Although the Chinese calendar traditionally does not use continuously numbered years, outside People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. In countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States, although Chinese New Year is not an official holiday, many ethnic Chinese hold large celebrations and Australia Post, Canada Post, and the US Postal Service issues New Year's themed stamps.Chinese New Year appears on every 1st January in the Chinese calander. .

According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nien. Nien would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nien ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people. One time, people saw that the Nien was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nien was afraid of the colour red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nien. From then on, Nien never came to the village again. The Nien was eventually captured by hong Jun Lao Zu, an ancient Taoist monk. The Nien became hong Jun Lao Zu's mount.

A reunion dinner is held on New Year's Eve where members of the family, near and far away, get together for the celebration. The New Year's Eve dinner is very sumptuous and traditionally includes chicken and fish. In some areas, fish is included, but not eaten completely , as the Chinese phrase "may there be surpluses every year" sounds the same as "may there be fish every year."

Red packets for the immediate family are sometimes distributed during the reunion dinner. These packets often ods are consumed to usher in wealth, happiness, and good fortune.
Clothing mainly featuring the colour red is commonly worn throughout the Chinese New Year because it is believed that red will scare away evil spirits and bad fortune. Wearing new clothes also symbolizes having more than enough things to use and wear in the new year.

Clothing mainly featuring the colour red is commonly worn throughout the Chinese New Year because it is believed that red will scare away evil spirits and bad fortune. In addition, people typically wear new clothes from head to toe to symbolize a new beginning in the new year. Wearing new clothes also symbolizes having more than enough things to use and wear in the new year.

The following are popular floral decorations for the New Year and are available at new year markets.Plum blossom,kumquat,narcissus,chrysanthemum,bamboo,sunflower,eggplant and chom mon plant.