Happy New Year

Lantern Festival Display

February 10 marks the beginning of the Chinese New year and China's biggest holiday, known locally as the Spring Festival.  Traditionally its a family and religious holiday.  Honor and respect for ancestors forms a major part of the celebration.  On New Year’s eve a special dinner is held for the family and the spirits of

ancestors are invited to attend.  Places will be set for them at the table.

Participants are encouraged to wear red clothing, the sign of good luck and happiness.  Brooms and dustpans are locked away until after New Years for fear that someone will accidentally sweep in the house, sweeping away the new good luck associated with the holiday.  No mention of death is allowed, nor may anyone speak the word for the number ‘four’ which sounds very much like the word for death.

Celebrations will end on February 24, the Lantern Festival.  Cities have spectacular lantern displays, lantern parades are held, and children make their own paper lanterns. The traditional food associated with the Lantern Festival are Yuanxiao Dumplings – sticky rice dumplings with sweet or savory fillings.