2010: The Year of the Tiger

Chinese New Year begins Feb. 14. This year (2010) is the Year of the Tiger.

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Get ready for 15 days of celebration!

The celebration begins Feb. 14. No, it’s not a new Valentine’s Day tradition. This day marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year, and 2010 is the Year of the Tiger.

The Chinese New Year begins with a new moon and finishes on the fifteenth day, which is a full moon. The Chinese calendar consists of lunar and solar movements. The holiday revolves around the importance of family and friends.

Getting ready for the Chinese New Year began way before New Year’s Eve in traditional China. The entire house was cleaned and swept. This annual housecleaning, or the “sweeping of the grounds,” started on the 20th of the twelfth moon. Sweeping or dusting was not done on New Year’s Day so that good fortune would not be swept away. The house was decorated with spring couplets (short poems on red paper) that are well wishes for the family.

The last week of the old year was for getting gifts and food. Chinese New Year presents consist mostly of foods like fruits and tea. Food was prepared before New Year’s Day. In traditional China, it was believed knives, scissors and other sharp objects should be put away, so as not to cut the luck of the coming year.

On New Year’s Eve, every member of the family gets together for an evening meal. If someone could not come, there would be an empty chair to symbolize that person’s presence. Deceased relatives are remembered with much respect. Fireworks are set off at midnight to send out the old year. In traditional China, every door and window was opened at midnight to let the old year out.

On New Year’s Day, all family members wore new clothes. The children got lai see, or red envelopes. Those envelopes were filled with money.

The first week is all about visiting friends and relatives. People bring gifts such as oranges or tangerines, which are symbols of much happiness. Melon seeds (dyed red) also are given and symbolize joy and truth. Candy arranged in a circle or octagon called “The Tray of Togetherness” is another tradition to bring.

On the fifth day, the traditional Chinese believe the gods come down from the heavens. No one sees friends or family because it will bring bad luck. Instead, people stay home and welcome the God of Wealth.

Everybody’s birthday is celebrated on the seventh day, and people are one year older on that day. It also is a day when farmers show their produce. A drink is made of seven different vegetables.

The Festival of Lanterns on the fifteenth day marks the end of the celebration. Lanterns are carried into the streets for a parade. A dragon dance is the highlight of the parade. The dragon is made of silk, bamboo and paper and can be as long as 100 feet. The dragon is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune.