Chinese New Year is celebrated in many cultures, especially in areas with large ethnic Chinese populations. It lasts for 14 days, with the last day being an all-out celebration of lights and parades. The actual day of celebration varies, and it is a public holiday in some countries. Families and friends visit each other, a large dinner is held on New Year’s Eve, and the color red is worn and used in decorations to symbolize prosperity. Children receive red envelopes containing money, but never an amount that includes the unlucky number 4.
Chinese New Year is not unique to China and this holiday is celebrated in many cultures around the world. It is especially common in areas with large ethnic Chinese populations. Some other countries also celebrate the Lunar New Year on or near the same day as Chinese New Year, including Korea and Vietnam. Until the early 20th century, Japan also celebrated the Lunar New Year, but the practice has largely been abandoned. The holiday is also celebrated in some cities of Europe and America, especially New York and Los Angeles.
Holiday celebrations last 14 days, starting on the first day of the year with the new moon. The last day of the celebration, known as the Lantern Festival or Little New Year’s Eve, is an all-out celebration of lights and parades. Due to the way the date is calculated, the actual day the celebration begins can vary greatly, from January 22 (2004) to February 19 (1996).
Chinese New Year is a public holiday, although it can vary depending on where it is celebrated. The first seven days took off in China, but only the first is a non-working day in Brunei and Indonesia. Most businesses in the festive towns close during the celebrations and don’t reopen until the fifth day. In China and Korea, everyone is one year older on the seventh day of the new year, which is known as the “common man’s birthday.”
During celebrations, it is common for families and friends to visit each other and a large dinner is usually held on New Year’s Eve. The color red is worn and used in decorations to symbolize prosperity, and people give each other small ornaments and some flowers, such as sunflowers and daffodils, to bring forward a great year. Children often receive a red envelope containing money, which never amounts to $4 US dollars, as this is considered an unlucky number.
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