Millions of individuals worldwide will celebrate the Chinese New Year 2012.The event isn’t a single day but spread over a full two weeks. The Chinese New Year is

also full of customs and traditions, among them are:

1. Adults, both married and unmarried, give out red envelopes to kids throughout this event. The envelopes have cash in them. Employers also hand these out to workers to ensure great fortune. The quantity inside the envelope ought to be in even numbers, preferably 8, which the Chinese regard as a lucky number.

2. The Chinese regard tangerines as a lucky fruit, so you’ll find these fruits serve in conventional Chinese New Year feasts. Children are expected to wish their elders a pleased new year and offer them two tangerines as they do so, that is a sign that they are also wishing for their elders to be lucky in the new year.

3. Any Chinese New Year parade wouldn’t be complete with out the dragon and lion dance. You’ll see this dance in numerous Chinatowns worldwide. To the Chinese, the dragon symbolizes great fortune and power. Dancing is believed to bring in great luck and prosperity for the new year.

4. The Chinese decorate their houses with read banners. The banners have the word “Fu” printed or painted on them for luck. Some also have short couplets and poems printed. The poems convey gratitude for the previous year’s blessings and hopeful wishes for the new year.

5. Chinese New Year is also known as the Lantern Festival, so anticipate to determine lanterns as an additional regular fixture of this specific occasion. Lanterns are lit up, welcoming the new year. Some walk around with lit lanterns on the streets, while other people string them up outside their houses.

6. An additional thing that people do with these lanterns is post riddles on them. People write the riddles on a piece of paper and stick them on towards the lantern. Anybody — guests and passersby — can attempt to guess the riddle. If they answer it correctly, they get a present from the individual who hung the lantern.

7. The Chinese New Year is also a time when the ancestors are remembered. This is done by saying prayers in their honor. Incense sticks are burned as the prayers are stated. The people thank the ancestors for all the good fortune they’ve received the year prior to.

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