Happy New Year

阿邱

*The Importance of Chinese New Year
　　Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday celebrated among Chinese people. It is often referred to as the spring festival because it signals the beginning ofspring. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving.*The 15- day Celebration of Chinese New Year
　　The first day of the Lunar New Year is "the welcoming of the gods of the 　　heavens and earth."
　　The second day, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods.
　　The third and fourth days are for the sons-in-laws to pay respect to their 　　parents-in-law.
　　The fifth day people stay home to welcome the God of Wealth.
　　The sixth to the 10th day, the Chinese visit their relatives and friends freely. 　　They also visit the temples to pray for good fortune and health.
　　The seventh day of the New Year is the day for farmers to display their produce.
　　The eighth day, the Fujian people have another family reunion dinner, and at 　　midnight they pray to Tian Gong, the God of Heaven.
　　The ninth day is to make offerings to the Jade Emperor.
　　The 10th through the 12th are days that friends and relatives should be invited　　for dinner.
　　The 13th day, after so much rich food, you should have simple rice congee and　　mustard greens (choi sum) to clean the system.
　　The 14th day should be for preparations to celebrate the Lantern Festival, which　　is to be held on the 15th night.
　　The 15th day of the New Year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated　　at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.