Chinese New Year holidays around the world

Gong Xi Fa Cai in 2014, the Year of the Horse. Image: colourlovers.com

Our planet is actually very beautiful with cultural diversity, so that we can see a variety of festive events from various tribal, ethnic, religious and cultural variety of nations, such as the Chinese New Year, Japanese New Year, Balinese New Year (Nyepi), or Thanks Giving and so on. 

Although we do not participate we celebrate the significance of religion or culture of other nations, but the excitement and happiness that they feel, is a blessing for anyone. Openness between nations and respect each other will undoubtedly bring peace to all mankind.

Year of the Snake was soon replaced with the Year of the Horse in the late 2014's. A line up of exciting New Year celebration events await. Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4712 begins on Jan. 31, 2014.

Fireworks in Chinese New Year. Image: news.bbc.co.uk

Chinese New Year celebration also means there is a delicious dinner with family or friends, enjoy entertainment or shopping for new clothes or buy a gift for colleagues or business associates. The new year is a horse seasons of prosperity. 

It says that people born in the Year of the Horse are clever, kind, animated and energetic. Although they sometimes talk too much, they are cheerful, perceptive, and talented and love to be in the centre of a crowd. They are popular among friends, active at work and have a deft sense of humor. 

Are you also born in horse years? If you want to see your zodiac in the Chinese calendar, you can see on the website: chinesenewyears.info

Lantern festival. Image: telegraph.co.uk

Year of the Horse in 2014 is the Year of the Wooden Horse. Wood Horses are strong and stable and have a better ability to make-decisions. Excellent at interacting with others, they are successful personally and professionally. If you are out of luck in the year of the snake in 2013, then in 2014 you can expect more to realize your dreams in a variety of fields you can even find the right mate to accompany you throughout your life.

Chinese New Year we will give or receive a greeting New Year greeting with a variety of sentences such as:

Wan Shi Ru Yi:  means everything follow your will

Ji Xiang Ru Yi: means harmony and follow your will

Sui Sui Ping An: means harmony and safely year around

Gong Xi Fa Cai: means Congratulations and be prosperous, which is usually pronounced in southern China, including in Indonesia, Singapore and other places where there are Chinese citizens living as residents in a country.

You can choose one of them to convey to your friends or colleagues are of Chinese descent. They will be happy to welcome you as such utterances have a meaning that essentially all pray for good things.

Chinese New Year celebration is celebrated in many countries, usually in cities of China such as in Toronto, Washington, Jakarta, Singapore, Sydney and so on. You will see a number of events with fireworks, dinner, lion dance (Barongsai), typical Chinese pastries that just appeared on the Chinese New Year. This celebration is definitely very festive and happy and made ​​the atmosphere lively with light lanterns.

 

Many nations enliven the Chinese New Year. Image: cmdmedia.wordpress.com/

In China, the New Year is a time of family reunion. Family members gather at each other's homes for visits and shared meals, most significantly a feast on New Year's Eve. 

The lantern festival is held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. 

People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.

Where will you celebrate or watched the Chinese new year this year? If you happen to be in Taiwan, Hong Kong or Beijing, you will see a very festive celebration with authentic Chinese ornaments. However, we can also feel this pivotal moment in Jakarta, Indonesia, or in Semarang. At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck.

In Indonesia there is a unique atmosphere while celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in which people in this country also enjoys food called Lontong Cap Gomeh, typical food is authentic Indonesian food but has been part of Chinese (Imlek) tradition in Indonesia. There must be a certain uniqueness of each tradition of a nation which was held in another country, as well as the celebration of Christmas among Christians, and the celebration of Eid in Islamic societies. Religious celebrations are also adjusting to the local culture conditions as has been mingled with the local culture. That's why the world is getting rich with unique culture and traditions.

 

Chinese New Year in Kuta, Bali. Image: lidahnyalady.blogspot.com

There will be a festive fusion of traditional Chinese events and Western excitement, so come and enjoy a truly unforgettable East meets West New Year experience in USA, Canada, and Australia or in European countries. You can also enjoy the Chinese New Year celebrations in Bali with the unique atmosphere of an island paradise.

Are you ready?

If you want to enjoy the holiday atmosphere different than previous years, perhaps you need to visit Taiwan, Macau, Beijing or Singapore were certainly very creamy with the Chinese tradition. Vacationing in countries that have a genuine tradition of a New Year celebrations or religious feast would definitely give a unique experience to you, and enrich our lives to get to know other cultures and traditions, in addition to our own tradition.

Gong Xi Fa Cai. Congratulations and be prosperous.