Feature -

 
Chinese New Year

 

 

Chinese New Year is the biggest festival of the year in Chinese communities and is sometimes known as the Spring festival. As it is based on the lunar and solar calendars, the date varies from late January to mid-February.

2007 is the Year of the Pig and on the Chinese calendar the new year will be 4705. Each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac: the Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Rat, Ox, Tiger and Rabbit. People born in boar(pig) years (2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935) love good company and good clothes. Although they are quick to lose their tempers, they calm down quickly as well and all is forgotten. They get on best with rabbits and rams, and worst with snakes. Their lucky numbers are six and seven, and water is their symbol.

The Chinese New Year will be celebrated at events all over UK and the festival and parade in central London to mark the start of the Year of the Pig will take place on Sunday 18 February 2007. This annual event, which takes place in Chinatown, Leicester Square, Charing Cross Road, Trafalgar Square and surrounding area, is organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association. Over 200,000 people attended the celebrations for Chinese Year of the Dog in London on 29 January 2006 - the biggest celebrations outside China.

 

In the days leading up to the Chinese New Year, people clean their houses, repay debts, buy new clothes and have their hair cut. A celebratory meal is held on the eve of the new year, with many traditional dishes served, and fireworks and firecrackers are let off to see in the new year.

With the start of the new year, Lion Dances pass through the streets to bring good luck to the households and businesses they visit. The drums, gongs and cymbals that accompany the Lion Dance are used to scare away evil and bad luck.

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