Ms. Bing Wei is a published author in both Chinese and English moncler jackets sale . A middle chapter of her first novel in English can be read here: The Chinese New Year celebration dates back to 2697 BC, when the ancient tradition marking the end of winter and beginning of spring. The start of the New Year is determined according to the Chinese Lunar calendar, a system created to measure time based on the moon cycle moncler sale . That is why the Chinese New Year is also called the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival in China. Often the first day of the Lunar New Year falls into January or February of the Gregorian calendar.
Many Asians cultures celebrate the lunar New Year as well as the Chinese moncler jackets on sale . The Vietnamese call it Tet Nguyen Dan, meaning "first morning of the first day of the new year." The Korean names their new year "the first month of the year" Jung Whur.
For the Chinese, traditionally the celebration lasts fifteen days, starting by exploding thousands of firecrackers and ending with a Dragon parade moncler jackets .
Legend has it that a monster called Nian (meaning "year") used to haunt and eat people on New Year's Eve. A Chinese village lit firecrackers (an early version of gun powder) and pasted flaming red banners on their doors to work magic. To celebrate, the whole village turned out, danced, feasted and exchanged gifts moncler jackets men . This gives birth to the lion dancing, dragon parade and giving out money in little red envelopes for the New Year period.
New Year's Eve - The entire New Year observation starts with New Year's Eve, called Chu Xi. For believers, they go to a temple to pray for their ancestors as well as their own health and fortune for the coming year moncler jackets women .
Houses are cleaned and decorated with red paper cuts called Window Flower (chuan hua). Many people gets a haircut too. A Chinese banquet with foods of special meaning are prepared for the Eve. Often ten courses are served as "ten" stands for perfection (Shi Quan Shi Mei) moncler down jackets . The fact that family members gather for this special feast is believed to bring good fortune and togetherness for the coming year. Fish are served whole to represent completeness and plenteousness (Nian Nian You Yu). The noodle symbolizes longevity. Year-cake (Nian Gao) is eaten, either savoury or sweet, for the meaning of growing every year. By midnight, fireworks light up the sky to scare away the monster and welcome the New Year.