Chinese New Year

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Chinese New Year
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• Historical Background
• By Christopher Lin

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Background Information

• Centuries old event.
• Most Significant holiday.
• Largest human migration.
• A 15 day long celebration starting from 1/1
  (Sunday) of the Lunar Calendar (????).
  
• Ends on the 15th day, known as the Lantern
  Festival (???)
  

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The Zodiac
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• Similar to the Western Zodiac of the 12
  astrological signs.
  
• 12 Zodiac animals Mouse, Ox, Tiger, Hare,
  Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog,
  Boar.
  
• Coming yearBoar ? (Joo or D)

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
4
Public Holidays

• 7 days in China
• 5 days in Taiwan
• 3 days in Hong Kong and Macau
• 2 days in Malaysia and Singapore

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Purpose

• A time of reunion with family.
• Reunion dinner on New Years Eve
• (?? Chu shi) This Saturday
• Red envelopes (?? Hong bao or Ang Pao)
  containing money (??? Ya shui chian)
  

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Superstitions and Beliefs

• Stay up all night on New Years Eve.
• It is considered very unlucky to
• Sweep the floor on the 1st five days of New Year
• Talk of the deceased
• Getting a hair cut ?? vs ?? (to cut your
  fortune)
  
• Buying books ? vs ? (to lose)
• Break dishes ? vs ? (???? sui sui ping an)

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The Story of Nien
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• A ferocious beast called Nien
• Comes out from the sea every year to eat people
• The people drove Nien away with Red, Fire and
  Noises.
  
• Greeting Congratulations ?? (Gong-shi),
• ?? (Guo-Nien )

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Visiting Gift
Why???
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Night Market
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Night Market
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Night Market
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Red Pocket Money
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New Year Poetry
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New Year Poetry
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Happy New Year
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