I’m sure it is not a surprise to most of you when I say that we really like to celebrate holidays – all of the traditional ones and also a few others. Sometimes we even borrow a holiday from another country or culture, just because it is fun to do. We just finished up Valentine’s Day and now our family is looking at a small celebration as we look to another “borrowed” holiday. Thursday, February 19^th is the first day of the Chinese New Year. My family loves to celebrate Chinese New Year and learn about the new year and the animal of that year. I am pretty sure they also like the food we eat when we celebrate Chinese New Year. Want to celebrate Chinese New Year with your family too? Here is a little bit of info and background to help you celebrate and share with your family.

Spring Festival, which we call Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional festival and an important celebration for families in China. It is an official public holiday. During Chinese New Year most Chinese have 8 days off work. In 2015, Chinese New Year begins on Thursday, February 19^th and ends on March 5^th. Chinese New Year is the first day in the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The date of Chinese New Year is in January or February, and it varies from year to year but it is always somewhere in the period January 21^st to February 20^th. The Chinese lunar calendar is related to the Chinese zodiac which contains twelve animal signs. These signs are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each year in the 12-year cycle is represented by one of the 12 animals. This year, 2015, is the year of the goat.

Chinese New Year has been celebrated for more than 4,000 years. It is believed to have originated from a belief sacrifices that had to be made to different gods each year. People would make sacrifices to the gods and pray for a good harvest as the seasons changed.

Being together as a family is a very important part of Chinese New Year. Traditionally, wherever people are, they come home to celebrate Chinese New Year with their families. The New Year’s Eve dinner is called the Reunion Dinner. All of the generations of the family sit around round tables and enjoy the special food and time spent together. It is believed to be the most important meal of the entire year.

Traditional foods eaten during Chinese New Year include fish and dumplings. Fish is eaten because eating fish is supposed to bring good luck and a surplus of money in the new year. Chinese dumplings are thought to resemble a kind of ancient Chinese money, so people think eating dumplings during Chinese New Year will bring you wealth for the new year.

Red decorations will be seen everywhere during Chinese New Year. The color red is thought to be lucky and decorating with it will bring good luck. You will see red lanterns and many other red decorations in towns, around houses, all over. Setting off firecrackers and fireworks are common during Chinese New Year. There are also dragon dances which are not seen other times of the year.

People also give gifts during Chinese New Year. The most popular gift given during Chinese New Year is given to children and the elderly, these gifts are red envelopes with money inside.

Does knowing a bit more about Chinese New Year make you want to celebrate it this year? Stay tuned for ideas to celebrate with your family. Have ideas to share? Let us know – we love to hear from you!