Today we delve into the festive atmosphere of exotic China. In this country, the exact date of the New Year celebration depends on the lunar calendar and the first day of the new year is called the "Spring Festival". In a word, in a different way in China everything. Although "international" New Year, which begins Jan. 1, here too, celebrating the bright and loud and are prepared with the same scale as the traditional.
In 2017, the traditional Chinese New Year of the Rooster Fire (Ying Li Shing Nian) will begin on January 28 in 2 hours 6 minutes Kiev time
Preparations begin a month before the scheduled date. If you want to see the celebration of this day, you'd better plan a trip in advance and arrived in China for a week to the celebrations. At this time in the country to organize more colorful and excursions.
Almost across the country from 25 December (Christmas European) until mid-January, stores start grandiose sales, streets and houses are decorated with garlands, Santa Claus sitting in large shopping centers and offer all wishing to make a a wish. Just like us!
Before the New Year was celebrated in China for a month now triumph reduced to 15 days. During this period, the whole country is literally painted in red: it is believed that he drives away evil spirits and attracts good luck and prosperity in the house.
On the eve of the Chinese induce scrupulous in homes marafet: throw out unnecessary things that have accumulated over the years to give a sign to the house of a new happiness. According to legend, in the feast days of the gods bring luck to the house, which is deposited in the form of dust. On the day before the celebration begins in each house-cleaning, and in the evening all brooms, brushes, buckets, rags and other equipment must be removed from sight.
After cleaning - a special home decoration. On the frames of the windows, on the doorframes Chinese glued five colored strips of paper, which is executed immediately two missions - scare off evil spirits and attract the five kinds of happiness: wealth, longevity, luck, honor and joy. Instead of a Christmas tree in China put the "light tree" - orange tree - or around the house are arranged "roller coaster" of oranges.
2-3 hours before the "battle of chimes" family gathers around a big table, to carry out the old year and greet the new. By the way, the Chinese are so valued the family and family relationships, that if the age of 30 you do not got a pair, then you simply will not be respected. And to avoid condemning the senior, the younger generation uses a "life hacking": hiring for family celebrations "specially trained people" - a couple of the evening.
On the holiday table, in addition to dishes of chicken, duck, pork and fish, also serves cakes and pastries, which are traditionally prepared for the New Year. These sweets have long called Nian Gao, or "Christmas cake". Considered obligatory dish cakes with sweet rice. In the north of China in the New Year's feast has made traditional dumplings (Jiaozuo), and in the south - slices, cooked glutinous rice (nyangao).
Northerners prefer dumplings, because the Chinese word "Jiaozuo" in tune with the words "farewell meeting of old and new." In addition, these "ravioli" resemble their traditional form of ingots of gold and silver, symbolizing the desire of wealth. dumplings – It is not just a tasty dish, but also a symbol of best wishes to all the families, among which the most desired – the birth of sons.
PAfter a celebratory dinner, you can not go to bed, so as not to miss his happiness. This tradition is called Shou Swei, which literally means offs of the year. And how can we fall asleep, if Dinner ends with the distribution of money "happiness"? Adults give children red envelopes with embedded in them, the sum of "good luck". In ancient times, New Year's money were presented in the form of one hundred copper coins associated with a red ribbon symbolizing hope and life to 100 years.
According to Chinese ancient beliefs, jointly conduct the year extend the life of the parents.
During the greetings and bestowing people take each other's hands and say: Gung Shi Fa Tsai, which means: "Congratulations! I wish wealth and prosperity! "Or Do Fu Do Shou, meaning" May your life is full of happiness and joy! ", As well as Ru Dung Hai, Shou Bi Nan San, which means "let your happiness be as large as the East Sea, and life - so long as the South the mountains".
On the first day of the year passed, as indeed we do, walk-in guests. And when the Chinese come to someone for a visit, they exchanged two tangerines for each person that is believed to have symbolizes the wish of prosperity and wealth in the new year, as the Chinese "two Mandarin" and "well-being" sound equally.
In addition to the money in China it has accepted to give gifts, but surely pair of objects that symbolize family harmony: two vases, two mugs, two paintings. And, interestingly, the presents are given already before the actual departure or even leave secretly.
A feature of the second day is that every needy could go to any house and be sure to give him food and some small gifts. They can not refuse.
About a fifth - the sixth day of the new year, people have come to work and there are first of all... launch fireworks.
The eleventh day of the holiday is commemorated, which arranges in-law after his daughter's husband. And the richer the holiday, the richer the table, the more father-in-law loves her.
12th-14th day of a two week holiday the Chinese spend at work and try to use simple and easy food to recover after a heavy New Year's feasts.
On the fifteenth day of fun resumes - and people go out again to celebrate the radiant on the street. The brightest celebrations held in Beijing. At midnight of the main temple of the city "take off" in different directions bright colorful huge dragons, who bring with them good luck and wealth for everyone in the country.
All the temples announce the vicinity of the ongoing ringing of bells and the procession ends with the incredible beauty of fireworks. It is believed that in this way in China ward off evil spirits, who are eager to move into someone. It is interesting that before the invention of gunpowder, firecrackers and fireworks, it was decided to throw in the oven bamboo sticks (Baozhi): when heated, they published a loud crack.
Whatever the loud sound of celebratory fireworks, soon comes a time of quiet everyday life, in which, one after another put forth are performed in the magical night of New Year's wishes.
