Thursday, February 19, 2015

Gong Xi Fa Cai 2015 ... Year Of The Goat !





Gong Xi Fa Cai 
 ~ 2015 ~

February 19, 2015 ~ My-SECRET-Corner is ringing in the Lunar New Year — in Chinese astrology, the Year of the Goat —


Today marks Chinese New Year - the longesr and most important holiday in the Chinese calendar. Chinese New Year is the longest national holiday in China, spanning a total of 15 days.

Here in Singapore, the celebrations had already started since last night. Parts of Chinatown located in Northbridge road were so colorful. Adorned with well lit lanterns as well as chinese themed red and orange decors. The streets of Chinatown were beaming with lively colors and Goat lanterns adorned a major float situated right in the middle of a junction of 2 major street roads. The views were just spectacular especially during nighfall.











Goat or sheep?

2015 is the year of the goat, but you may see it referred to as the “Year of the Sheep” too.
The confusion stems from the Chinese character “yang”, which can translate in colloquial Chinese as either sheep or goat.
Those born in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1967, 1979, 1991 or 2003 are goats, who can count their lucky colours as brown, red and purple.
Their characters are supposedly kind and peaceable, while their best months are supposedly August and November and their lucky flowers are primroses and carnations.





Chinese New Year is celebrated by dinners , parades, dragon dances, reunions and gift exchanges .
Red clothing and elements are essential for Chinese New Year, as the mythical monster at the centre of the New Year, Nian, was supposedly scared of the colour red and fireworks, which have also become a key part of New Year celebrations.
Cleaning the house on the twentieth day of the second lunar month before the New Year, and subsequent house decorating, are both major rituals in the run up to New Year.


Each day has its own celebration: while on Day 2 it is traditional to visit friends and relatives, on Day 3 people tend to stay at home as it is not seen as auspicious to socialise.
The final day, Day 15, sees the Lantern Festival, where red Chinese lanterns are released into the sky.

( Part of an article in The Independent )


0 comments:

 
,