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For the Westerners it’s been over 3 weeks since we reveled in the festivities of a new year. By now, some of us may have given up on our New Year’s resolutions and are already thinking ahead to what we should aspire to when next year rolls around. But not the Chinese, today is Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it it literally translated. It may not feel like spring in Ottawa but that won’t stop the celebrations!
Fun facts:
- Chinese New Year marks the end of the winter season and lasts 15 days (ending with the lantern festival)
-Chinese New Year is the longest and most important holiday in the Chinese calendar
-Chinese New Year traditions include thoroughly cleaning to rid your house of ill-fortune and to make room for good luck as well as decorating windows and doors with red paper.
-Chinese New Year Eve is spent with family and friends, feasting on pig, duck, chicken and sweets and ending the night with firecrackers.
-On the morning of Chinese New Year, children receive money in red paper envelopes and per custom the money enclosed should be an even number (as odd numbers are associated with money given during funerals)
-It’s a tradition to buy new clothing for Chinese New Year, specifically red colours as it was originally believed that red could scare away evil spirits and bad fortune. Wearing new clothing symbolizes a new beginning in a new year.
