The Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year festivities are held At the end of January or beginning of February for a period of one month. During this time Chinese people celebrate the end of winter season. Preparations begin in December when shops are filled with people buying gifts. Buying new shoes is extremely important because it is believed that if you walk in old shoes on New Years’ Day you’ll have bad luck. On New Year’s Eve families gather at home and cover their doors with strips of red paper. This is meant to keep out evil spirits. Gifts are exchanged at midnight. Homes are filled with the sound of happy children who traditionally receive coins in red envelopes on New Year’s Eve. For the next two weeks all shops are closed as people enjoyed visiting friends and relatives. The atmosphere is friendly as children sing songs for sweet rice cakes and musicians play in the streets. The final and most impressive event is the Lantern Festival. Colourful lanterns are hung outside homes and a dragon parade takes place. The dragon is very long made of paper and painted in bright colours. Men stand under the dragon’s head and body. The parade winds through the streets as crowds cheer and set off firecrackers.