The Year of the MONKEY February 8, 2016 Chinese New Year The Year of the MONKEY February 8, 2016

The Chinese Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and not how long the earth takes to revolve around the sun, as in the West.

The calendar is also based on a 12 year cycle The calendar is also based on a 12 year cycle. Each year is represented by an animal.

The New Year for 2016 will start on Monday February 19, 2015 and it will be the Year of the MONKEY (the beginning of a new 12 year cycle starts with a dragon.) Next year is the year of the rooster and it will start on Saturday January 28.  

The New Year is also called the Spring Festival The New Year is also called the Spring Festival. It is a time to pay debts, settle quarrels and make a fresh new start. The celebration lasts for 15 days. There is significance to each day.

On the second day, the Chinese pray to their ancestors and are extra kind to dogs. It is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs.

The 14th day is to prepare for the Lantern Festival which begins on the 15th night.

The Lantern festival celebrates the increasing daylight and warmth after winter’s cold.

Lanterns can be modeled after animals, dragons, flowers, people, machines and any number of other objects. Some are also decorated with scenes from popular stories.

There are many superstitions associated with Chinese New Year There are many superstitions associated with Chinese New Year. The New Year begins with setting off fireworks because it is believed that this drives away evil spirits.

Firecrackers are also a way of sending out the old year and welcoming the new year. All windows and doors are opened to allow the old to go out. Windows and doors get a fresh coat of red paint. Red symbolizes good fortune and joy.

Everyone should refrain from using foul language and bad or unlucky words. References to the past year are also avoided as everything should be turned toward the New Year and a new beginning. Hair is not washed because it would mean that good luck has been washed away.

Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune. If you cry on New Year's day, it is believed that you will cry all through the year. Children are never spanked on New Year’s, even if they are bad.

When visiting friends and relatives, etiquette demands that one gives a bag of oranges and tangerines. These fruits are symbols of abundant happiness.

A candy tray arranged in either a circle or octagon is called “The Tray of Togetherness” and has a variety of candy to start the New Year sweetly.

Other foods include a whole fish, to represent togetherness and abundance, and a chicken for prosperity. The chicken must be presented with a head, tail, and feet to symbolize completeness. Noodles should be uncut, as they represent long life.

The traditional lion dance is performed between the fourth and fifteenth days of the New Year. It is done to bring good luck and to ward off evil spirits. The dance also expresses joy and happiness.

Sometimes there are lion dance competitions Sometimes there are lion dance competitions. At the beginning of the dance the lion is fed an orange. The skin represents gold and when it is spit out, it symbolizes the spreading of wealth and fortune. At the end of the dance, the lion is rewarded with lettuce. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuaeRRWH9ko&feature=related

Lai See is the custom of giving a gift of money in a special red envelope during the New Year’s celebration. In the Chinese culture red is a lucky color. Both red and gold (which represent wealth) are popular colors for the New Year celebrations.

The combination of the red envelope and money represent a wish for good luck and good fortune in the coming year as red represents good luck and money represents wealth.

While the amount of money in the envelope is usually small it symbolizes a wish for good fortune. Many believe that good luck will come to both the giver and the recipient of the Lai See.

Children and unmarried friends, as well as close relatives are given lai see.