Chinese New Year is next Sunday (14th Feb)! It is the year of the Tiger! (在虎! hǔ nián!) Happy New Year!! (新年快樂!! xīn nián kuài lè!!)Chinatown in London will celebrate Chinese New Year on the following Sunday 21st Feb 2010 between 12pm-6pm. There will be dragon dancing, lion dances outside shops and firecrackers to mark the event.
In China the mythical creature Nian (年兽, nián shòu) is a beast that lives underground or in mountains (it also shares the name of a year). Once a year, around the time of spring and new year Nian is said to come out of hiding to devour livestock, crops,and even villagers, especially children. It is thought that loud noises and the colour red scare the Nian, which is where the Lion dance (not to be confused with the dragon dance) and loud firecrackers are thought to stem from.
That is the myth of the creation of Chinese New Year. The truth may be much more prosaic. In the middle of the long winter months, a bang up celebration is a good way to cheer everyone's spirits. Noise and fireworks always make a party go with a bang, and the colour red is the colour of celebration in China.
Here are some phrases that may be useful next weekend:
新年快樂
xīn nián kuài lè
Happy new year
恭賀新禧
gōng hè xīn xǐ
Happy New Year
身壯力健
shēn zhuàng lì jiàn
May you have a healthy body and great strength
心想事成
xīn xiǎng shì chéng
May your wish come true
萬事如意
wàn shì rú yì
to have all one's wishes - 'best wishes'
恭喜發財
gōng xǐ fā cái
Have a prosperous New Year!
在虎年大幸運
hǔ nián xíng dà yùn
Good luck in the year of the Tiger
鼠年數錢數不完
zài hǔ nián shù qiáns hù bù wán
May you have countless amount of money in the year of the Tiger
xīn nián kuài lè
Happy new year
恭賀新禧
gōng hè xīn xǐ
Happy New Year
身壯力健
shēn zhuàng lì jiàn
May you have a healthy body and great strength
心想事成
xīn xiǎng shì chéng
May your wish come true
萬事如意
wàn shì rú yì
to have all one's wishes - 'best wishes'
恭喜發財
gōng xǐ fā cái
Have a prosperous New Year!
在虎年大幸運
hǔ nián xíng dà yùn
Good luck in the year of the Tiger
鼠年數錢數不完
zài hǔ nián shù qiáns hù bù wán
May you have countless amount of money in the year of the Tiger
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Hi Charlie, long time haven't talked. Hope you are doing good. I am going back to my hometown Guangzhou to spend the New Year. I also wish you a Happy Chinese New Year and maybe have some fun in the China Town! Tiger, that's my year..haha!
Best wishes,
Wanchi
Thank you Wanchi!! Have a great time visiting home and your family. How long will you be back there for? The full two weeks?
Are there special celebrations every 12 years to coincide with the year of your animal?
I certainly hope to enjoy the celebrations in Chinatown. Last year it was fantastic.
:)