“The lunar New Year, also called the Spring Festival, has been celebrated in China for 4,000 years”. “Chinese New Year is probably the most important celebration of the year”, said Jason Rehd, a junior who is studying Chinese in school.
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The Chinese Zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao, runs on a 12-year cycle, calculated by the lunar calendar, and each year is represented by a different animal. Hosted by the Dalhousie Chinese Students and Scholars Association, the Chinese Spring Festival Gala brought together both native speakers and those learning Mandarin for traditional food, song and dance.
“We welcome the Year of the Monkey, a symbol of optimism, energy and creativity (and my Chinese zodiac sign!)”. In the past three years, the City Government of Chicago has launched various events during China’s spring festival, with a view to attracting more Chinese tourists.
Monday marks the first day of the Year of the Monkey and the weeklong holiday, which is like the equivalent to Christmas for many in the West.. On Chinese New Year’s Day, families gather for the annual reunion dinner, clean their houses and sweep away bad-fortune.
Devotees offers prayers for the Lunar New Year at Kwang Im Tho temple in Singapore on Sunday.
Much of China’s population can expect sub-standard sleep after the country starts ringing in the Year of the Monkey. A baby boom is likely with many families saying a baby born during the year of the monkey is favored.
During the several weeks of observance, many other East Asia, Southeast Asian, and South Asian countries celebrate the occasion, including Korea and Vietnam.
Chow says in Chinese folklore this year is modeled after the Monkey King who had very high aspirations of becoming a supreme being. For 2016, this is the year of the monkey, which is one of 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac.
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“These are lions. We try to mimic as good as we can how lions are, how menacing it can be and how playful it can be at the same time”, Wu said. The sum is typically an even number, and it shouldn’t contain the number four, which is considered unlucky because it sounds like the Chinese word for death. Children often receive “luck” money.
