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The origin of the Chinese New Year Festival can be traced back thousands of years through a continually evolving series of colorful legends and traditions. One of the most famous legends is that of Nian, an extremely cruel and ferocious beast, which the Chinese believe, eats people on New Year's Eve. The Chinese word for year is based on the arrival of this beast. A phrase for Chinese New Year, guo nian means the passing of the beast. It is believed that it lives under the sea. It came to attack people at the same time of the year. The Chinese tradition of decorating in red, burning fire-crackers, and the lion dance with loud drums and gongs was to scare the beast away.
More about Nian from Wikipedia
The Jade Emperor (Pinyin: Yù Huáng or Yù Dì), known informally by children and commoners as Grandpa Heaven (Tiān Gōng) and known formally as the Pure August Jade Emperor or August Personage of Jade (Yu Huang Shangdi or Yu Huang Dadi), is the ruler of Heaven according to Chinese mythology and among the most important gods of the Chinese Daoist pantheon.
There are several stories as to how the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac were chosen. In one, the Jade Emperor, although having ruled Heaven and Earth justly and wisely for many years, had never had the time to actually visit the Earth personally. He grew curious as to what the creatures of the earth looked like. To this end, he charged his chief advisor with selecting the twelve most interesting animals and bringing them to Heaven to satisfy his curiosity.
Source: Wikipedia
After his father died, the crown prince of the kingdom of Pure Felicity and Majestic Heavenly Lights and Ornaments ascended to the throne. He made sure that everyone in his kingdom found peace and content, after that he told his ministers that he wished to cultivate Dao on the Bright and Fragant Cliff. After 1,750 trials, each trial lasting for 120,976 years, he attained Golden Immortality. After another hundred million years of cultivation, he finally became the Jade Emperor.
Source: Wikipedia
A red packet or hóng bāo is a monetary gift which is given in Chinese society. The name comes from the red packet in which the money is contained. It is called Lai Si in Cantonese. Red packets are often presented on social and family occasions such as a wedding reception or a holiday such as Chinese New Year (in which context it is also known as yāsuì qián)
Source: Wikipedia
Yusheng, a salad of raw fish and shredded crunchy vegetables (such as carrots, jicama, pickled ginger and pomelo) in a plum sauce dressing. Although commonly served in China throughout the year, it was popularised as a Chinese New Year dish in Singapore and Malaysia, a practise which has since spread to other Chinese communities. Originally served only on the seventh day of the new year, it is now eaten on any day, sometimes as early as two weeks prior to the commencement of the new year.
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Chinese Fireworks is an of Fierce shrieks now!
Fortune cookies is an of Use of rice not OK?
Chinese is an of He’s nice
Source: Anagram Genius
New Year's Watch by Su Shi
Soon now, we'll mark the year's end that approaches,
It's like a snake that crawls into a hole.
Already half its scaly length is hidden,
What man can stop us losing the last trace?
And even if we want to tie its tail,
No matter how we try, we can't succeed.
The children make all effort not to sleep,
We laugh together, watching through the night.
The cockerels should not cry the dawn for now,
The drums as well should give the hour respect.
We sat so long the lamp's burnt down to ash,
I rise and see the Plough is slanting north.
Next year, perhaps, my span of years could end,
My fear is that I've just been marking time.
So exert ourselves to the utmost here tonight,
I still admire the exuberance of our youth!
http://www.chinese-poems.com/su2.html
Chinese New Year's Day is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, i.e. the day of the second new moon after the day on which the winter solstice occurs, unless there is an intercalary eleventh or twelfth month in the lead-up to the New Year—in such a case, the New Year falls on the day of the third new moon after the solstice. (The next time this occurs is in 2033.) The Chinese New Year period ends with the Lantern Festival, on the fifteenth day of the month.
Source: Wikipedia
Longest Dancing Dragon: On February 19, 2000, a 3,048-m (10,000-ft) long Chinese dancing dragon was brought to life by 3,200 people at the Great Wall of China, near Beijing. The record was set to celebrate the Chinese year of the dragon. It took 66 people an incredible 69 days to build the dragon, and once completed, it was estimated that it would take a person two hours to walk the length of it! On the day, it needed 19 people to support the head alone. Yolanda Chiu, secretary for the "Dragon At The Great Wall" Hong Kong Committee said, "The dragon dance was a spectacular event, which exemplified the unity and solidarity of 3,200 Chinese youth worldwide." Afterwards, the head was taken back to Hong Kong to be put on display in the Sha Tin museum, whilst the body was cut into 100 sections and sent to supporters of the event.
Source: Guinness World Records
Plan your year in the spring, your day at dawn. (Chinese)
The harvest of a whole year depends on what you sow in the springtime. (Chinese)
The weasel comes to say "Happy New Year!" to the chickens. (Chinese)
Source: Creative Proverbs
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