The Chinese New Year is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. It occurs between late January and mid-February based on the lunar calendar. Traditions include cleaning homes, wearing red, spending time with family, giving money in red envelopes, eating foods like oranges and dumplings for prosperity, and performing dances like the dragon dance to scare away evil spirits. One legend explains how the order of the zodiac animals was determined by their finish in an ancient swimming race. The holiday remains an important part of Chinese culture worldwide.

1. Luke LongoChinese New Year3/13/10<br />Chinese 7Period 7<br />The Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, is the most important celebration on the Chinese calendar. The date varies depending on the cycles of the moon. In ancient China the new year marked the end of the old farming season and the beginning of a new one. The new year lasts for 10 days.<br />To prepare for the Chinese New Year people clean their houses and buy new clothes. It is very important to wear the color red during the Chinese New Year, for the legend states that the color red and firecrackers scared away the mythical monster nian. On the Chinese New Year families should spend time with each other. This is why people don’t give out pears during the Chinese New Year, because the word pear sounds like the word separate.<br />Oranges bring good luck for the upcoming year.Foods are a main part of the Chinese New Year. Oranges and tangerines are often given and eaten due to the fact that they sound like the words gold and wealth. Dumplings (Jiao Zi) are eaten because they look like ancient Chinese money from the Ming Dynasty and their name sounds like an early word for paper money, so it to brings prosperity and wealth. People will also eat moon cakes during the Chinese New Year. The noodles people eat resemble the people having a long life. Fish, specifically carp, are eaten to have a prosperous year ahead. <br />The legend of the new year states that the monster nian lived in the ocean, but came out every new year to eat the people and their livestock, so they hid deep in the caves. One new year, an old man asked to stay in the village. If they let him stay he would chase away nian for them. He also stayed in the village instead of hiding in the caves. Then when nian came, there were firecrackers lit and red banners everywhere. Nian was so startled that he fled away. Then when the villagers came back the next day, they found there village in perfect condition and the three items the old man used to scare away nian, but the old man was gone. They all agreed he was a deity who came to free The mythical creature nian.them from nian. Every Chinese New Year the villagers would set off firecrackers, hang red banners, and light lanterns to keep nian away. <br />There are many dances during the Chinese New Year. One of the dances is the dragon dance. Dragons were the friendly helpful creatures that used to roam China. The dragon dance in the Chinese New Year is performed to scare away the evil spirits. Performers hold long poles attached to the dragon and move the dragon up and down. There is always a lantern in front of the dragon to guide the dragon. Many people think that longer dragons are luckier than shorter dragons. Another traditional dance is the lion dance. There are two dancers, one as the head and the other as the body. The lion may have a mirror on its head so the evil spirits get scared away by its own reflection. Along the way the dragon meets up with a “laughing Buddha” who teases him with a fan of banana leaves, which makes the lion jump up and down. The lion often scatters lettuce to symbolize the start of a new year and good luck. The lion also eats lettuce which may contain hong bao. These dances are performed to a drum, gong, or cymbals.<br />Another tradition of the Chinese New Year is to give your family and friends red envelopes, known as hong bao. These envelopes contain money for the people who receive them. You should accept the hong bao, for this person is wishing you a prosperous new year. <br />Another legend of the Chinese New Year is the legend of the zodiac. The Jade Emperor wanted a way to measure time, so he told the animals that there would be a swimming race on his birthday. The first twelve animals would be the winners and have a year of the zodiac named after them. The rat and the cat lined up by the river, but since they were bad swimmers the ox offered to carry them across. They hopped and were on their way, but when they were close to the other bank the rat pushed the cat into the water. Then when the ox was about to win the rat leaped ahead and came in first place. The rat came in first place getting the first year of the zodiac. The ox was tricked and came in second place. The tiger, exhausted from swimming against the currents, came in third place getting the third year. Then came the rabbit, which got across by hopping on stones and eventually floating across on a log. Then the dragon came. The Jade Emperor asked why the dragon didn’t win, for he could swim and fly. The dragon told him there were thirsty people and animals, so he had to make rain. There was also a bunny on a log, which he blew a puff of wind to to help get the bunny across the river. Then the horse came, but he didn’t notice there was a snake on his hooves until it jumped off. The horse was so surprised that it jumped backwards and got seventh place. Then the goat, monkey, and rooster came across on a raft the rooster had found. The goat and monkey cleared away the reeds and pushed the raft to shore. The goat was named 8th, the monkey 9th, and the rooster 10th. Then came the dog. The emperor asked him why he was so late for he was one of the best swimmers. The dog replied by saying the water was so clean he had to bathe in it. The last spot went to the boar. The boar said he was late because he was hungry, and after he ate he fell asleep. The cat crawled out of the river after the boar, but it was too late. The cat and the rat had never been friends since.<br />The Chinese new year still is very important to many Chinese people around the world. It is widely celebrated and is a large part of their culture. This important holiday keeps their families together and brings joy to the entire nation of China and Chinese all around the world.<br />