CHINESE NEW YEAR
CHINESE NEW YEAR IS A CELEBRATION THAT TAKES PLACE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE LUNAR CALENDER. EVERY YEAR ON THE LUNAR CALENDER REPRESENTS AN ANIMAL. THE ANIMALS ARE:RAT,OX, TIGER, RABBIT, DRAGON, SNAKE, HORSE, SHEEP, MONKEY, ROOSTER, DOG, AND PIG. THE CYCLE REAPEATS EVERY 12 YEARS.
ON CHINESE NEW YEAR EVE, CITIZENS INVITE FAMILY MEMBERS OVER AND EAT DINNER. THEIR MAIN DISH IS A WHOLE FISH SO THEY WILL HAVE MORE SAVINGS NEXT YEAR. ALSO, FAMILIES CLEAN THEIR HOUSE AND DECORATE IT WITH RED. THEY USE RED BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS HAPPINESS.
ON CHINESE NEW YEAR DAY, PEOPLE SPEND LOTS OF TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THEY GO TO FESTIVALS AND EAT A LOT OF TRADITIONAL FOOD. THE FESTIVAL STARTS AT MIDNIGHT WITH A LOT OF FIREWORKS. CHILDREN SHOW RESPECT TO THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS BY BOWING AND SAYING HAPPY NEW YEAR. THEN THEY RECEIVE MONEY IN ENVELOPES FOR GOOD LUCK.
ONE OF THE POPULAR FESTIVALS IS THE LANTERN FESTIVAL. IT TAKES ON THE 15 TH OR LAST DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR. PEOPLE HAVE A LANTERN PARADE AND A LION DANCE CELEBRATING THE 1 ST FULL MOON OF THE YEAR.