Chinese New Year  

Monday 26 January 2009

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, will begin today, 26th January 2009. It is the main Chinese festival of the year and is not a religious event.

As the Chinese use the lunar calendar for their festivals the date of Chinese New Year changes from year to year. The date corresponds to the new moon (black moon) in either late January or February. Traditionally celebrations last for fifteen days, ending on the date of the full moon. In China the public holiday lasts for three days and this is the biggest celebration of the year.

The Year of the Ox

The Chinese calendar is different from that used in the United Kingdom. It is made up of a cycle of twelve years, each of them being named after an animal. This is very much like our signs of the zodiac. Some people believe that people born in a particular year will have some of the characteristics of that animal. January 26th 2009 marks the start of the Year of the Ox. On the Chinese calendar the new year will be 4707.

As thousands of people greet the Year of the Ox today, many believe a little help from the animal's hard-working spirit may be just what's needed in the months ahead.

According to Chinese belief, the Ox is a symbol of wealth and success through hard work and resilience -- a welcome sign right now considering the country's economic difficulties.

Over a sixth of the people in the world celebrate Chinese New Year. Customs vary in different parts of the world, but everywhere the main idea is the same....
It is a time to remember the family and wish everyone peace and prosperity in the coming year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Trojan and I videoed our own new years message. So we can look upon this as a chance to restart all our failed new years resolutions!

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