HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!

10th of February

Long, long time ago in a land far, far away a mythical beast Nion would come on the first day of New Year and roam the villages, eating livestock, crops, villagers and especially children. People would go to their families, stay together, strengthen the numbers, lock themselves in and pray against the worst. Until one year, a little girl wearing a little red coat was lost on the streets when Nion was paying his visit. Seeing the girl, the beast screamed in fear and run to never return to that village. Soon, all the people heard of the incidents and sure enough prepared themselves for the next New Year's day. Putting food in front of their door on which they hanged red ribbons, lanterns and spring scrolls on windows. And that is how the tradition of New Year's Celebration/ Spring Festival started in the country of China.

This year the celebration is going to take place on the 10th of February, reminding farmers to prepare for sowing of their fields. Christmas decoration will come down and soon the New year decoration would be put up across the whole country and people's homes all around the world. Decoration such as lanterns, cherry blossoms, orange-trees and loads of red colour. People would swipe and clean their houses, getting rid of the old dust and a previous year only to welcome new, happy and positive. The celebration marks the beginning of spring and a new year of a Zodiac which 2013 will be the year of the Snake.

The most important is a reunion family dinner on the New Year's Eve. Big feast, many courses, lots of noise and laughter.

Even if you are not a Chinese friend, have a little celebration with you family and friends. A good excuse for a family dinner and telling them of another traditions and cultures. Do it in a Snake, red, theme. If not, go on to celebrate the beginning of spring, it's always fun and liberating to celebrate spring few times a year. Wear red and be merry. Draw a dragon. Look up what kind of animal you are and live it up. Clean your home.

Happy Chinese New Year!!!