04/02/07

New Year

       In China, New Year is very important. New Year starts January 29, 2006. This date is only for the year 2006. It is the biggest holiday in China. New Year is a time when people say good bye to the old year and hello to the new.  It is enjoyable for all ages. New Year is one of the most exiting parts of the year. This is when the families come together and meet. Chinese people would not wash their hands on that day. If they do, that means they washed away good luck for the new year. In Chinese New Year celebrations, people would wear red clothing because it stood for fire. The reason for this is because they believe it took away any bad luck. People also wore all of their new clothes from head to toe. They are trying to tell you that if you wear new clothes, it is the starting of a New Year.

       Another thing the Chinese celebrate during New Year are the dragons. The dragon represents strength, good luck, goodness, etc. The Chinese people would have a parade with dragon costumes. These dragon costumes are made out of bright colored silk and beautifully decorated. Men and boys are inside the dragon during the parades. One is controlling the head and the other is controlling the rest of the body.

Weddings

      In China, weddings are very exciting. It is a time where two families come together as one. They are similar to traditional weddings. The bride will wear a gown, and the groom will wear a suit. The brides wedding dress is usually the color white or red (since red is the color of luck in Chinese culture, the bride would normally wear an all red dress). Often the dress is made with many designs made of gold or silver thread. The most common designs on the dress are the dragon and the phoenix, showing the meaning of male and female sides. In some occasions, the bride would wear a piece of red veil to cover her face.  

Christmas

          About 20 years ago you probably wouldn’t have thought that Chinese people celebrated Christmas. That’s because Christmas is mostly for Christian families. Many Chinese people aren’t Christians. But if you were to go to China now, you would see Christmas decorations all over the place. People there celebrate it more now than then. Here is how you get ready for Christmas in China: 1. Make paper lanterns to decorate your house. 2. Set up a Christmas tree. 3. Help your children hang muslin stockings to be filled with small presents. 4. Expect Santa Claus to come visit.