Year Of The Rabbit

February 3rd is the beginning of the Chinese New Year, the start of 15 days of celebrations to welcome in the Year of the Rabbit. 

The Chinese zodiac features 12 animal signs. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are said to be calm, sensitive and conservative. That means you if you were born in 1915, 1927, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 and, of course, the next 10 months and 26 days of 2011!

Chinese New Year is a wonderful excuse to celebrate, whatever your nationality. So to get you hopping into the spirit, lets explore the traditions behind this most important of Chinese celebrations.


Chinese New Year changes each year...
 
Chinese New Year falls between the end of January and the middle of February each year.  The exact date is dependent on the lunar cycle and the solar year not the Gregorian calendar used in Europe.  This year it starts on 3 February - the second new moon after the Winter Solstice and finishes 15 days later when the moon is full.

Chinese New Year is also the celebration of the Spring Festival, a time when farmers plant new crops and give thanks for the end of winter. It is a time for spring-cleaning the home to clear out last year and welcome in the new, prosperous year.  There are many superstitions surrounding this time as a person’s actions are thought to directly reflect the fortune, good or bad, they will receive for the coming year.


Family gatherings and spring-cleaning...
 
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day is celebrated by gathering the whole family together starting with a family supper on New Year’s Eve, a little like our Christmas Day lunch.  Next morning the children will wish their parents a ‘healthy and happy New Year’ and are usually given money in red envelopes.


Authentic Chinese New Year food traditions...
 
Each day of the New Year celebrations hold a specific significance and some of these traditions focus on food, before the family supper on New Year’s Eve the spring cleaning should have been done, all debts should be paid, all arguments resolved and money changed for new bank notes from the bank.  Children should have new clothes and some of the clothes should be red or orange to reflect the colour that scared away the Nian.


New Year’s Eve traditions...
 
The whole family should gather together for a reunion dinner, each door and window should be thrown open at midnight let the old year blow away.  A whole chicken is usually eaten, symbolising family togetherness and served with noodles to represent a long life.  Noodles should not be cut as this means bad luck so they are sometimes served very, very long.


New Year’s Day traditions...
 
The day for visiting the most senior members of the family, fireworks are set off and children are given money in red envelopes.  Many people do not eat meat on this day and some think it is inauspicious to light fires or use knives on New Year’s Day. Oranges are served and cakes that look like golden nuggets.  You should greet everyone with the words “Gung Hei Fat Choy” wishing everyone wealth and prosperity.