The Sacred Chinese New Year “Gong Xi Fat Chai”

Chinese New Year is an important traditional Chinese holiday celebrated at the turn of the Chinese calendar. In China, it is also known as the spring festival, the literal translation of the modern Chinese name. Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally run from Chinese New Year’s Eve, the last day of the last month of the Chinese calendar, to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month, making the festival the longest in the Chinese calendar. Because the Chinese calendar is lunisolar, the Chinese New Year is often referred to as the “Lunar New Year”.

Celebration of Chinese New Year is celebrated on the 1st to the 15th in a calendar month of the Chinese calendar which combines the calculation of the sun, moon, two yin- yang energy, or the astrologicalzodiac constellations, 24 seasons, and 5 elements.

Since the fifth occupant of this earth is the Chinese, the Chinese New Year is celebrated by almost all corners of the world where there are Chinese, Chinese descent, or Chinatown. Many nations neighboring Chinese celebrate Chinese New Year such as Taiwan, Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan and Japan.

Special in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and the countries which has a population of ethnic Chinese, Chinese New Year is celebrated and some have been acculturated with the local culture. There is also a culture of giving such a gift parcel Lunar, angpao, and so on. Lunar contents of this parcel of course depending on the sender.

There are many festivals shown in Chinese New Year, such as Spring Lantern Festival, Hung Sing Festival, Ching Ming (The Festival of Pure Brightness), Cheung Chau Bun Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Seven Sister Festival, Mid- Autumn Festival, Monkey God Festival, and Winter Solstice Festival.

In Hong Kong, most government offices, banks and public utilities will be closed for the Chinese New Year public holidays in Hong Kong. However, most shops and restaurants in the busiest districts will remain open. Some shopping malls may even extend their service hours. Major attractions, theme parks and public transport will operate as usual. Street markets and stalls will usually close on the first and second day of the Chinese New Year (19- 20 February) and resume business from the third day (21 February).

So, whether you’re cheering at the Night Parade, squeezing into festive flower markets, gasping at breathtaking pyrotechnics or betting on the horse races, your Chinese New Year in Hong Kong will be unlikely any other.