Chinese New Year 2015: 6 things you need to know about the...

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Chinese New Year 2015: 6 things you need to know about the...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/chinese-new-...

News > World > Asia

Chinese New Year 2015: 6 things you need to

know about the Year of the Goat (not Sheep)

everything you need to know about yang, pillows and primroses

FRANCESCA WASHTELL

Wednesday 18 February 2015

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When is it?

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PEOPLE

Tomorrow marks Chinese New Year, the longest and most

important holiday in the Chinese calendar.
The worlds largest annual human migration is now well
underway as 2.8 billion trips are made across China in what is
known as chun yun, when students, migrant workers and office
employees living away from home will make the journey back to
celebrate with their families.

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A woman stands under paper lanterns, celebrating the Chinese New Year
at Ditan Park in Beijing (Reuters)

It is Chinas most important holiday

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18/02/2015 13:30

Chinese New Year 2015: 6 things you need to know about the...

Chinese New Year is the longest national holiday in China,

spanning a total of fifteen days, and New Years Day is the most
important date in the Chinese calendar.
The first three days of the new year are a statutory holiday but
usually most people will have the time from New Years Eve to
the sixth day of the new year off from work.
Although China has used the Gregorian calendar since 1912,
Chinese New Year is based on the ancient Chinese lunar
calendar, and it falls on the second new moon after winter
solstice - somewhere between 21 January and 19 February,
meaning it changes from year to year.

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It is pronounced Gong Xi Fa Cai in Mandarin and Gong Hey

Fat Choy in Cantonese, although both are written the same way.
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Chinese New Year:

6 things you need
to know about the
Year of the Goat
(not Sheep)
VOICES

Fireworks explode at the River Hongbao Lunar New Year Celebrations

along Marina Bay in Singapore (Reuters)

Roughly a sixth of the world will celebrate it

As well as being celebrated in China itself, celebrations occur in
Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and all countries where there are
significant Chinese populations.
London and San Fransisco both claim to host the largest
celebrations outside of Asia, and smaller celebrations occur in
most Western countries.
This year Londons celebrations will take place on 22 February
from 10am to 6pm in Trafalgar Square and include a parade
through the West End.

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Wish people a happy new year by saying Xin Nian Kuai Le in

Mandarin or San Nin Faai Lok in Cantonese.
Goat or sheep?
2015 is the year of the goat, but you may see it referred to as the
Year of the Sheep too.

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PEOPLE

The confusion stems from the Chinese character yang, which

can translate in colloquial Chinese as either sheep or goat.
Those born in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1967, 1979, 1991 or 2003 are
goats, who can count their lucky colours as brown, red and
purple.
Their characters are supposedly kind and peaceable, while their
best months are supposedly August and November and their

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Chinese New Year 2015: 6 things you need to know about the...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/chinese-new-...

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Goat dolls are on display at a gift shop for the upcoming Chinese Lunar
New Year at a market in Bangkok's Chinatown (EPA)

TECH

lucky flowers are primroses and carnations.

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TECH

Children receive money and place them under the pillow before going to
sleep, to bring happiness and good fortune (The Royal Mint)

Children will sleep with money under their pillow

Children will be given red envelopes filled with money to bring
happiness and good fortune.
The envelopes themselves are good luck, as well as the contents,
and some children will sleep with their envelopes under their
pillow for up to seven days to increase their luck.

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A common misconception is that everyone receives money from

everyone else as part of Chinese New Year celebrations.
In fact, only people who are not married receive the red packets
of money (hong bak) and only those who are married give them
out.
How is it celebrated?
Dinners, parades, dragon dances, reunions and gift exchanges
are all part of Chinese New Year celebrations.
Red clothing and elements are essential for Chinese New Year, as
the mythical monster at the centre of the New Year, Nian, was
supposedly scared of the colour red and fireworks, which have
also become a key part of New Year celebrations.
Cleaning the house on the twentieth day of the second lunar

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Chinese New Year 2015: 6 things you need to know about the...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/chinese-new-...

Filipino dancers perform a Dragon Dance on the eve of the Chinese New
Year (EPA)

month before the New Year, and subsequent house decorating,

are both major rituals in the run up to New Year.

In pictures: Chinese New Year 2015 Year of the Sheep/Goat celebrations

1 of 15

Each day has its own celebration: while on Day 2 it is traditional

to visit friends and relatives, on Day 3 people tend to stay at
home as it is not seen as auspicious to socialise.
The final day, Day 15, sees the Lantern Festival, where red
Chinese lanterns are released into the sky.

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