http://www.stevesalve.com/bebo/chineseastrology/images/gift_lantern.gifhttp://www.stevesalve.com/bebo/chineseastrology/images/gift_lantern.gifCHINESE NEW YEAR
(February 14th)
For those who have noticed... I have posted a new event.
This year, to honor our manager (me) we will be celebrating many Chinese holidays.
Why Red?
Red is the predominant color used in New Year celebrations. Red is the emblem of joy, and this color also symbolizes virtue, truth and sincerity. On the Chinese opera stage, a painted red face usually denotes a sacred or loyal personage and sometimes a great emperor. Candies, cakes, decorations and many things associated with the New Year and its ceremonies are colored red. The sound of the Chinese word for “red” ( 紅) is “hong” which also means “prosperous.” Therefore, red is an auspicious color and has an auspicious sound.
Clothing
Clothing mainly featuring the color red is commonly worn throughout the Chinese New Year because it is believed that red will scare away evil spirits and bad fortune. In addition, people typically wear new clothes from head to toe to symbolize a new beginning in the new year. Wearing new clothes also symbolizes having more than enough things to use and wear in the new year.
Gifts? Seriously?
Red Envelopes
Red envelopes almost always contain money, anything varying from a couple dollars to several hundred. Usually, it's given out in Even Numbers, for Odd Numbers are associated with funerals. Per Chinese custom, the Even/Oddity of the number is based on the first digit, not the last. For example, 30 and 50 are odd.
The number 8 is considered lucky (for its homophone for "wealth" ) ... and $8 is commonly found in the red envelopes. The number six is also very lucky due to the reason, in Chinese six[六,liu] can mean "smooth", as in having "a smooth year". Sometimes chocolate coins are found in the red packets/envelopes.
In addition to red envelopes, which are usually given from elder to younger, small gifts (usually of food or sweets) are also exchanged between friends or relatives (of different households) during Chinese New Year. Gifts are usually brought when visiting friends or relatives at their homes. Common gifts include fruits (typically oranges, and never pears), cakes, biscuits, chocolates, candies, or some other small gift.