The Chinese Lunar Calendar As A Baby Gender Predictor And How To Use It

The Chinese Lunar Calendar for baby gender prediction was developed, after years of study, by Chinese scientists about 700 years ago. Many in the far east beleive it is very precise, up to 99%! Whether you are a beleiver or not, the Chinese Birthing Calendar can be a loads of fun to experiment with at you're next baby shower or get-together.

If your already pregnant the Chinese baby calendar can show you if you'll be having a baby boy or a baby girl. Trying to become pregnant? The Chinese Lunar Calendar for baby gender selection can show you the best time to conceive in order to have a baby boy or a baby girl.

To use the baby calendar accurately you just need to know the mothers age at conception and the month of your baby's conception. You need to find these dates using the Chinese Lunar Calendar, as opposed to the Gregorian Clendar used here in the west.

How can you figure out these days on the Chinese Lunar Calendar? The mother-to-be's age does not begin on her birthday, as here in the west, but at her conception. So, add 9 months to her age to start. Also theChinese New Year varies each year, falling sometime between January 22 and February 22. You will need to find out if the Chinese New Year day on the mother's year she was conceived will have any effect on the mothers age as well.
Now you need to determine the baby's month of conception, here again via the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

When you have figured these two dates precisely you merely find these dates on the Chinese birth chart and follow the 2 columns until they intersect and if the square is blue the gender predictor chart predicts a baby boy, if the square is pink the chart predicts a baby girl.

The Chinese baby chart, can be used in determining the gender of a baby, pre-conception or after the baby is born, older children, or even adults for that matter.

Sometimes your unborn baby's sex can be determined, by way of an ultra-sound, as early as five months (although it's occasionally hard to determine until the seventh or eighth month.) But, I believe using the Chinese Lunar Calendar as your baby predictor is a lot more fun!

Put the Chinese baby gender prediction chart to use (now that you know how) at your next baby shower, or get together, and have some fun with it. You will find the Chinese Lunar Calendar for baby sex selection at my blog below, don't forget it's for entertainment and educational purposes only!

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1299762_40.html

Traditions Of The Chinese New Year

Chinese Culture is rich in its culture and traditions . They have their own beliefs and New Year traditions , which they follow ardently. Although the Chinese New Year , Nian, lasts only two or three days including the Chinese New Year's Eve, the Chinese New Year season extends from the mid-twelfth month of the previous year to the middle of the first month of the new year. A month from the onset of the Chinese New Year, it is supposed to be a good time for business. People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration material, food and clothing.

It is the Chinese New Year tradition that every family gives its house a thorough cleaning, hoping to sweep away all the ill-fortune there may have been in the family to make way for the wishful in-coming good luck. People also give their doors and window-panes a new paint, usually in red color. They decorate the doors and windows with paper-cuts and couplets with the very popular theme of "happiness", "wealth", "logevity" and "satisfactory marriage with more children". Paintings of the same theme are put up in the house on top of the newly mounted wallpaper. In the old days, it was a Chinese New year tradition to distribute various kinds of food at the alta of ancestors.

The Eve of the Chinese New Year is very carefully observed. Supper is a feast, with all members coming together. One of the most popular Chinese New year tradition course is “jiaozi”, dumplings boiled in water. "Jiaozi" in Chinese literally mean "sleep together and have sons", a long-lost good wish for a family. After dinner, it is time for the whole family to sit up for the night while having fun playing cards or board games or watching TV programs dedicated to the occasion. It is also a tradition to keep every light on the whole night. At midnight, fireworks will light up the whole sky as people's excitement reach its zenith.

Very early the next morning, children greet their parents and receive their presents in terms of cash wrapped up in red paper packages from them. Then, the family starts out to say greetings from door to door, first to their relatives and then to their neighbors. This Chinese New Year tradition is a great way to reconcile forgetting all old grudges. The air is permeated with warmth and friendliness. During and several days following the New Year's day, people are visiting each other, with a great deal of exchange of gifts. The New Year atmosphere is brought to an anti-climax fifteen days away when the Festival of Lanterns sets in. It is an occasion of lantern shows and folk dances everywhere. One typical food is the Tang Yuan, another kind of dumplings made of sweet rice rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings. This tradition is also specially followed on Chinese New Year time.

The Lantern Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year season and afterwards life becomes daily routines once again. Traditions of the Chinese New Year vary from place to place, considering that China is a big country not only geographically, but also demographically and ethnically. Yet, the spirit underlying the diverse celebrations of the Chinese New Year is the same: a sincere wish of peace and happiness for the family members and friends.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year hamper is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year hamper to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source : http://www.123chinesenewyear.com/traditions/

What to Expect in the Year of the Tiger - 2010

2010 is the year of the Yang Metal Tiger. Predictions are made by assessing the first day of the Chinese New Year and it serves as the dominating theme of the year. By looking at the four pillars chart of Feb 14th, 2010, the Year Pillar, Metal is fighting with the Tiger which is predominantly wood with fire and earth. The Yin Wood self is surrounded heavily by wealth elements, in this case, it is earth. In BaZi analysis, it is a chart of a person who is a weak self with too much wealth.

The self is also sitting on top of a ruling officer (Rooster), unfortunately, the Rooster is fighting with the Rabbit next to it which results in a lost of discipline. As a result, the year will see a continuation of government spending and many more job losses. The poverty rate will continue to rise around the world. I have also mentioned the continuation and accelerated spending by governments around the world in one of my articles "Predictions for 2010 from the I Ching hexagrams". The Tiger itself is a travel star and there will definitely be a lot of movement especially for those born in the year of the Rat, Monkey and Dragon.

The Tiger year is symbolic of the eyes. Eye glasses, the microscope, and the telescope were all invented or experienced technological breakthroughs during Tiger years. In 2010, there will be enhancements or new inventions related to visual technologies. 1590 saw an early microscope made in The Netherlands (Source: Wikipedia); coincidentally enough, it was in the year of the Yang Metal Tiger. Coming closer to recent history, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) was founded in 1962, a Tiger year as well. An Orbiting Solar Observatory was launched in that same year by the British. In 1854, another Tiger year, the prisms of the Binocular were patented. The main theme in terms of innovations in 2010 will definitely come from visual technology.

Moving on to health, those who don't like Tigers in their chart will definitely feel aches and pains around the shoulder and neck areas. Just think about how Tigers attack their prey, they tend to climb onto the animals' shoulders and gnaw on the neck area!

For the first half of 2010, Metal and Water will be more prominent especially between mid-April and July. Those who have a Bazi requiring metal and water will be at a better advantage to get things completed as the flow is in your favor. Those who have metal as their unfavorable elements may run into metal related mishaps, sicknesses affecting the respiratory system and the throat, or skin irritations.

In the second half of 2010, the effects of the Tiger comes to the forefront. The ninth lunar calendar month (or from October 8 - November 5), fire will be the main cosmic flow as the Tiger combines with the Dog month to form a powerful fire combination with the Yang Fire. As a result, those uncomfortable with fire in their charts may experience abnormal heart issues. The eyes may also be affected, perhaps it would be wise to drop by a local optometrist during that period. Take some caution when using fire related objects during that month; the possibility of fire-related accidents is high.

Animals that are not in favor of having the Tiger around are the Monkey and Snake. For those who are afraid of offending the ruling Tiger of 2010, especially the Monkey, it would be advisable that you partner up with a Dragon or Rat. The Dragon and Rat forms a water team with the Monkey, therefore, the harm caused by the Tiger on the Monkey would be limited. If you are born of the Snake year, or believe you have a Snake in your chart, you should be aware of what you do between mid August and mid September. Staying low and avoiding the crowd would be a good idea.

2010 will be a turbulent year as governments work together to solve global financial issues and tackle epidemics. Inflation will continue and the value of the US dollar will continue to erode, therefore, investments in the commodity space such as gold, copper, silver and other base metals would be beneficial. Even though the year sounds gloomy, positive breakthroughs in laser and visual technology will be witnessed.

case in 2010 was a good year or not is not at issue made, which is important is how we do better than last year.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year hamper is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year hamper to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jerry_G_King

Get Details About Chinese New Year And Chinese Valentines Day

Like in the rest of the world a day is dedicated to love and romance even in China. The Chinese do not celebrate the day on the 14th February rather the Chinese Valentine's Day is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th month according to the Lunar Calendar that has been chosen for the occasion. Qi Qiao Jie is the local name for the occasion and is also popular as the Seven sister's festival and the festival of the double sevens. There are several legends and fables that the Chinese associate with this festival. The best two variations have been mentioned below for you:

It so happened that during one of the visits to Earth by the seven daughters of the Goddess of Heaven, a young cowherd saw them taking bath by a riverside. Astounded by the beauty of the fairies, and on being encouraged by his pet ox, he silently stole their clothes and hid behind a tree. The elder sisters persuaded the youngest one to go and get the clothes back from the cowherd, Niulang. The youngest sister Zhinu who was also the most beautiful among them all went to Niulang to get back the clothes and also accepted his proposal for marriage. When the goddess of heaven came to know of this she was furious and distanced the two forever. Therefore, both are believed to be sitting on either side of the Milky Way, waiting to meet each other throughout the year. However, it is also believed that once a year, the magpies form a bridge and the two can unite. This is the day of the Chinese Valentine's day.
In China the two stars; star of Vega and star of Altair are believed to be the representations of Zhinu and Niulang respectively.

In the second variation of the Chinese Valentines day legends, the emperor of heaven united Niulang and Zhinu on realizing that they were lonely, only to separate them once more after finding them too engrossed in each other and neglecting all work. He therefore made it a rule for them that they could only meet once in a year, on the 7th day of the 7th month of the year. Therefore the Chinese celebrate Qi Qiao Jie as the yearly union of the two.

Chinese valentines day cards are one of the most popular gift items doing the rounds on the day. Images of Niulang and Zhinu are the most common elements of the cards. Several variations of flash cards, animated cards and also post cards are available with all online portals offering Chinese valentines day cards. Chinese valentine's day gifts include a wide range of selection. From fortune cookies to flowers, to cards and various other souvenirs, all form great gift options to be given on the Chinese valentine's Day.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source : http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Chinese-Valentine-s-Day---Get-Details-About-Chinese-New-Year-And-Chinese-Valentines-Day/890564

Chinese Masks And Culture

Even in this day and age Chinese Masks are used within two main elements of Chinese culture. The New Year masks which are worn by Chinese people to welcome the new year throughout the world. And the Opera masks which are painted and drawn on the faces of the actors and singers and are used to depict the traits and characteristics of the role each actor is playing.

Chinese New Years masks are not seen at any other time of the year. The exciting and extravagant Chinese New Year can last for a week or longer and ends with the Yuanxiao which is a lantern festival. The masks used depict the moods and emotion of enjoyment and happiness which tie in with the ceremonies and festival. Chinese people typically will buy presents, buy new clothes and cook expensive meals for the new year period. Throughout this period many works of art and crafts like the Chinese masks in their rich and vivid colors are worn and displayed to show the nature of the festivity.

Chinese Masks are made up of numerous materials like stones and metals, leather and cloth, paper and grass and more. They are then painted in different color themes and designs. Some masks may represent animal or human characteristics like the lion or the dragon. Red is also a popular color, thought to bring prosperity and many red masks will be seen during the celebrations.

Chinese New Year is based in lore of deities, spirits, good and evil beings and animal ancestors. Masks commonly depict these characteristics and powers and are held in high esteem during the ceremonies and dances involved in the Chinese New Year.

The dragon holds special significance at new years and is a bringer of good luck and fortune, especially for farming and harvesting and is also the bringer of rain. The New Years celebrations mark the beginning of the planting and farming seasons in China, and so the two tie closely together.

The dragon mask is a key symbol of fortune and prosperity for the New Year. The dragon mask is an important part of Chinese heritage and specifically New Year parades. While the dragon mask may not hold the same importance that it did during ancient times, no present day New Years parade is without it.

The dragon mask began as this kind of symbol, but through the centuries the role of the mask in Chinese society has changed. The mask is no longer seen as such an important part of agricultural prosperity today, but it is still a very important symbol to the Chinese people.

The dragon masks used during parades are commonly very complex and elaborate with vivid colors, usually in gold, red and blue with fur and feathers headed by the large dragon mask which usually features bright red. A traditional dragon mask will typically have either a wide rounded mouth or a yawning jaw. The person at the head of the dragon dance procession will wear the mask or hold it above his or her head as the dragon dances and snakes along through the streets.

The other type of masks in Chinese culture are the modern Chinese Opera masks which are either painted on or are worn as thin cloth masks. The tradition of facial make up started from totems created centuries ago times which later became facial paintings. Basic depictions of painted faces were discovered in tomb murals during the Song dynasty. Later this evolved and as the paints improved, along with the skills of the painters and crafters and the tools they used the masks evolved to don full color themes and designs and came to depict different artistic roles, different emotions and different moods.

Frequently used facial make ups include yellow which represents cruelty, Silver and Gold which are typically used to represent gods and demons and for spirits and ghosts, blue which is vigor and valor and green which depicts justice and chivalry. These color themes have remained the same for ages and were handed down and refined throughout the ages of Chinese art, culture and history.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_Bluestone

Chinese New Year Calendar 2010

Unlike western calendars, the lunar Chinese new year calendar has names that are repeated every 60 years. Within the 'Stem-Branch' system is the shorter cycle of 12 years denoted by animals:

2010 is the Chinese year of the Tiger. In particular, this is the year of Gēng-yín 庚寅 (Metal Tiger). Gēng is the seventh of the ten celestial stems and Yín (Tiger) is the third of the twelve terrestrial branches, thus February 14th 2010 marks the year of the Tiger with its association to bravery.

Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Sheep Monkey Rooster Dog Pig
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2007

Calculating 'When is Chinese New Year 2010'

The fact that the date of Chinese New Year varies within a lunar month is a clue that it's linked to the new moon. A rough, and almost infallible guide, is that the Chinese New Year date falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The winter solstice always falls on December 21st, the next new moon is January 15th, and the second new moon February 14th 2010.

Will and Guy admit that the precise rules for determining 'When is the Chinese New Year date', are far more complex. For example, one problem with any lunar calendar system is that some years there are 13 new moons. The Chinese deal with this be slotting in an extra intercalary month. However, the Chinese have been calculating the New Year for a long time, and 2010 and will be lunar year 4708 in the Chinese calendar system.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source : http://www.guy-sports.com/humor/christmas/chinese_new_year2010.htm

The Year of the Tiger in Phoenix

In 2010 February 14^th is The Chinese New Year. This is the Chinese Year of the Metal Tiger. Which is symbolized by a white tiger. Here in Phoenix February 8-14, 2010 is the 20 year anniversary of Phoenix Chinese Week. This series of cultural events is the result of a cooperative effort between the Phoenix Chinese Week Committee, the City of Phoenix and the Sister Cities Commission. This series of events celebrates the richness of the Chinese culture. There are plenty of parties, food and cultural activities in the Phoenix area this year to bring in the Chinese New Year. The main focus of the Phoenix Chinese New Year celebration is the Chinese Cultural Center in downtown Phoenix.

Chinese Cultural Center, Friday February 12 through Saturday February 14, 2010

This 3 day event has something for everybody. Families may want to start with the Children's Pavilion. This event offers children the chance to participate in hands on projects involving Chinese arts and crafts such as Chinese calligraphy, paper cutting and folding and many other cultural based activities. The Food Pavilion offers authentic Chinese cuisine from different regions so that you can experience the unique taste and variety China offers. The festival also has traditional Taipei Dragon Boats on display. Make sure that you don't miss the Photo Exhibit and the Mah-Jong Booth. The Chinese Cultural Center is located at 688 N 44 Street, just off I-10 in downtown Phoenix. The hours are Friday 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m... Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source : http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2649463/2010_chinese_new_year_celebrations.html?cat=8

The Tiger Chinese New Year 2010

The new moon in February for 2010 marks the start of the year of the Tiger for the upcoming Chinese New year. It will mark the end of the year of the Ox. Depending on the cycles of the moon, the Chinese Lunar New Year
usually falls either in January of February during the new moon. Chinese New Year 2010 will be celebrated on February 14th, which happens to be the same day as St Valentine Day. Chinese New Year 2010 marks the start of the the Year of the Tiger. The Chinese Zodiac has a twelve year cycle, and the tiger marks the third year. The other signs of the Chinese Zodiac are Rat, Ox, Rabbit, Dragon, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster.

The Chinese new year is sort of like the American Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays rolled into one big event. It is very important for families to be together to ring in the new year. The celebration does not last for just one day. In some areas it could last an entire month. However, the most important part of the Chinese New Year celebration occurs during the first 15 days following the first new moon of the year. Kids will be on winter break, and many in Asia will take a holiday from work.

During the holiday, food takes center stage, with feasting and banquets. There is the general belief that if you start of the year with abundant food and a good time, then that abundance will carry over throughout the upcoming year.

The foods that are eaten will vary greatly depending on the region of China, or whether you are in Singapore, Taiwan, or Hong Kong. The main dishes represent prosperity and success for the upcoming year. For example, in Taiwan and parts of China, many families will eat fish. The words fish and extra are homophones in the Chinese Mandarin language. When you pronounce the word fish and extra in Chinese they make the same sound, yew.
These words have a different character when written in Chinese but sound exactly the same. Just as in the English language, dear and deer are homophones, same sound, different spelling, and different meaning.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source : http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2551219/chinese_new_year_2010_the_year_of_the.html

Congratulations Chinese New Year

Unlike the Western Calendar which has the passing of the year as a fixed date each year, the Chinese calendar is based on a combination of solar and lunar movements with New Years being celebrated on the date of the second full moon after the winter solstice.

The misalignment of the solar and lunar cycles creates an imbalance over time which needs to be corrected by realigning the two calendars. Within any 19 year period, there are seven years where one month is added to maintain some form of alignment.

In addition to this cycle of realignment, from ancient times the Chinese have associated each year with an animal which they consider to be auspicious and the characteristics and traits of these animals are said to be imparted to any newborn. The list of revered animals is, starting with 2010; Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Boar and Rat.

Chinese New Year celebrations are heavily influenced by tradition and the Spring Festival, to give Chinese New Year its' more correct name is the holiday most celebrated during the year with family and friends gathering together to honour their ancestors with prayer and a banquet.

There are many customs associated with the celebration including the cleaning completely the home and the application of the principle of Feng Shui. Like their western counterparts, families stay up late and as the New Year approaches, all of the windows and doors are thrown open to let the old year depart along with any bad luck and to allow evil spirits to make way for good.

The welcoming of the changes in the seasons is represented symbolically by the use of flowers symbolizing that nature has reawakened. This symbolism extends to the use of fruits and candies representing prosperity and happiness; oranges and tangerines are traditionally placed around the dwelling and a tray of eight different types of candies made from lotus seeds, longan (a small juicy fruit), peanuts, coconut, cumquat, lychee (a small fruit with sweet flesh), red melon seeds, candied melon is commonly found in the main living area. Other decorations will be bright red and gold, both colours being associated with good fortune, and will include wall hangings wishing good luck and good fortune on all.

Aside from firecrackers which are an intrinsic part of any Chinese celebration, the Spring Festival is celebrated all around the globe by Chinese New Year Dragon Parades. The Dragon dance is a vital part of any Chinese New Year Celebration and the rich colours, drumming beat and its overall spectacle make it a must see event for Chinese and others alike. If you watch carefully, the Dragon, who is searching for wisdom and knowledge is actually following the Pearl of Wisdom which is atop a pole carried by the leader of the procession.

If you fancy holding your own celebration this Chinese New Years; it's never been easier. There are plenty of websites that can offer advice on recipes on creating your own Chinese banquet try the BBC webpages, and most fancy dress internet retailers have large selections of Chinese themed costumes and accessories. Chinese themed decorations are also becoming easier to source so it's never been easier to have a great Spring Festival or Chinese New Years celebration. Enjoy.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year hamper is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year hamper to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Sinclair

Gong Xi Fa Cai - Finding the Perfect Chinese New Year Cards

In its way, Chinese New Year is no different from the New Year celebrated on January 1 by so much of the rest of the world. It is time of well wishes and love. People hope for good fortune, happiness, health, and wealth for the coming year. A lot of people offer these good wishes by sending their loved ones Chinese New Year cards.

This is a common practice no matter what your culture is or when your new year celebration takes place. You want the people you love to know you are thinking of them. You want them to know that you are wishing them well.

When choosing a card to send someone for the Chinese New Year you have a veritable wealth of fantastic cards from which to choose. It all depends on your relationship to the recipient. Sending New Years cards to friends and loved ones is a time honored tradition.

The same is true for those who celebrate Chinese New Year. Of course, with the advent of ecards and holiday greetings sent through the Internet, they are becoming immeasurably more possible. The only real difference here is the style and sentiment of the cards in question.

Many cards celebrating the Chinese New Year are decorated with the things you see during the two week celebrations associated with the holiday. For example, both paper cards and electronic cards often incorporate fireworks displays. These are common practice during Chinese New Year, which is why such cards are so popular.

Dragons, Chinese characters, and the symbolic foods popular during Chinese New Year also make for great greeting card designs. Basically, any type of design which is special to you and/or your family will provide just the right sentiment.

If all else fails, you should always feel free to design a card of your own. You can even include your own hand written fortunes and well wishes, which provide an extra, personal touch to the whole affair. This can be ideal, and it certainly presents you with a way to show your loved ones exactly how you feel.Gong Xi Fa Cai - Finding the Perfect Chinese New Year Cards.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Henry_Fong

Chinese New Year Parties-Some Useful Tips

For 2007, the 15 day celebrations will begin on February 18th. 2007 is the year of the Pig (boar) which is also known as Ding Hai.

The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. With a lunar cycle of around 29.5 days the misalignment to the solar cycle is compensated for by adding a month every few years. Within a period of nineteen years, there are months added on seven occasions. This can be considered as being similar to adding days during a leap year.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated with family and a banquet, in honour of departed ancestors is held on New Year's Eve. It is a belief that the spirits of departed relatives will attend the living in-order to celebrate the New Year's arrival together. The feast has the name 'weilu' or 'surrounding the stove'.

In advance of the New Year Chinese tradition is to complete all unfinished business from the previous year. Homes are completely cleaned and the principles of fung shei are applied to ensure that there is room for good energy and good luck top enter the home. On the stroke of midnight as the years change, all doors and windows are opened to let the old year depart. New Year's eve is traditionally celebrated by the letting off of firecrackers as a welcome to the New Year.

A Chinese family home would be decorated with vases of pretty flowers to symbolize the reawakening of nature and you would also expect to see oranges and tangerines (symbolizing happiness) and a tray of candy. If you visit a Chinese family during the celebrations it would be expected that you would bring a bag of tangerines or oranges. If they have leaves attached this will assure that the relationship will remain secure.

The tray of candy has great importance and consists of eight different types. Each type symbolises good fortune of a different type. Traditionally you would find; lotus seeds, longan, peanuts, coconut, cumquat, lychee, red melon seeds and candied melon. The arrangement overall is called 'the tray of togetherness'

Other decorations around a Chinese family home would include wall decorations which typically would be good wishes for the New Year. The common theme would be that they would be on red paper. Red is a happy colour and one that will bring good fortune and consequently it is used extensively in decoration and clothing. Superstition dictates that the appearance and attitude of a person on New Year's Day will impact them throughout the new year, hence the choice of a happy and bright colour.

These themes should be integrated into your own Chinese New Year's party. Your home should be clean and anything no longer used or valued should be discarded. If your party is on New Year's Eve, don't forget firecrackers and to throw your windows and doors open at midnight. Decorate using a red, red/gold theme.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Sinclair

Customs Chinese New Year For the 1st Day

Chinese New Year is about to come. The New Year will last around 15 days, and the 1st day is the most important. The 1st day is dedicated to the ancestors and gods. Young people/children make wishes for the elder members to receive red packets filled with money.

In Chinese New Year customs, the child stands in front of the elders and wishes them a wonderful year. The most common phrase to use is "gong xi fa cai," which means, "Happy New Year and be wealthy."

For the ancestors, food will be on the altar at all times. While eating you should be careful not to break any dishes. The reason is that "breaking" can mean a lot of different things, such as the first sign of bad luck; you will be "broke" for the whole year; a "break" in your relationship; or you may "break" a leg. I think you get the point.

New Year, everybody wishes good things for each other and should not argue. For this reason, children will not get scolded during the New Year. If you are a guest, please, do not use explicit language or the word "four" when speaking. The reason why: the number 4 is a taboo because it sounds like the word "death." For color, you should not wear black or white on New Year. Only wear these colors when something happens to your family, such as at a funeral.

A little side note, if you wear black and white all the time in China, do not be surprised when people ask why you are unhappy.

Another Chinese tradition is that you should not wash your hair on New Year's Day. The word "xi fa" for "washing hair" sound likes the word "losing wealth." However, traditionally it is required for you to take a bath and wash your hair before New Year. "Wash" out the old, bring in the new. Also, it is just for personal hygiene (hehe).

To me, the highlight of the first day is the Dragon and Lion dance, which is usually performed by local martial artists. Beginning the year, the Dragon/Lion dance symbolizes scaring away the bad luck and ghosts. So, it is not rare to see some houses having their own Dragon/Lion dance inside. The true dance will involve nine dragons, but that is too costly. Nowadays, you will probably see a pair of dragons at the most. Furthermore, the number nine is considered to be the luckiest number in the Chinese culture.

But, if you really want to see the dance, I would recommend the parade. When you are there and want to feel the excitement, you should the tip the Lion; just a couple of dollars will be fine. After receiving the tip, sometimes the Dragon/Lion will dance for you.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dat_Nguyen

What do you know the chinese new year?

1. The calendars that most of us are familiar with—twelve named months, consisting of sequentially increasing numbered dates—bear little resemblance to Chinese calendars. The Chinese calendar is lunar dependant, meaning its composition has a lot to do with the cycles of the moon. Subsequently, the Chinese New Year doesn’t fall on the same date from year to year. In 2010, in fact, the Chinese New Year falls on February 14th, a day that most of us know as Valentine’s Day. So this year while you’re picking out your favorite Valentine ecards to send, you can pick out your Chinese New Year cards at the same time.
2. The story of the Chinese New Year celebration is just as interesting as how it’s decided when it will fall. According to Chinese popular culture, long ago villagers had regular battles with monstrous creatures known as the Nien. To prevent the Nien from eating them and their family members, people began leaving big pots of food outside their houses on the first day of the new year. The thinking was that the monster would eat all of this food, and leave the villagers alone.
3. But once, as a Nien was making its way through a village, a few people noticed that the Nien seemed to be scared by a little girl wearing a red coat. The villagers then discovered that the Nien was terrified of the color red. Thus, a great New Year’s celebration was had—because not only could the Chinese people use this information to keep themselves safe, but they also didn’t have to give all their food to the Nien, either.
4. Today, one of the popular traditions associated with Chinese New Year is the wearing of the color red. Much like the color green on Saint Patrick’s Day, the Chinese people make sure to wear as much red as possible during the New Year’s celebration. And if enough people get in on the act, we can add giving free printable Chinese New Year cards to the list of traditions, to.
5. An annual tradition known as Chunyun also coincides with the Chinese New Year. For a 40-day period surrounding the Chinese New Year, residents of China, and people of Chinese descent from all over the world, leave their jobs and regular lives en masse, and make incredibly long journeys over thousands of miles to see extended family members. Chunyun is the largest-scale regularly-occurring human migration.
6. And Chinese New Year is different from the Western celebration of New Year’s in one other big way. Whereas the New Year’s celebration that many of us are used to lasts the better part of an evening, and leads up to a great crescendo at the strike of midnight, the Chinese New Year is a 15-day celebration. Not only that, but each and every day has specific traditions associated with it.

in the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do

Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source : http://www.articlesbase.com/history-articles/what-do-you-know-about-chinese-new-year-1716705.html

Get Complete Information about New Year 2010

New Year is fast approaching and all of us must be wondering on how we can make our forthcoming days all the more happier and blissful. Making new resolutions, planning for the new year party, purchasing New Year gifts etc consume most of our days prior to the occasion. Despite the yellow leaves, chilly mornings and cool winds breezing through, every heart holds warmth of mirth and enthusiasm in it. Irrelevant of cast, creed, religion and region people celebrate New Year in the most grand manner. The bygone year is bidden farewell to and the new year is embraced with arms wide open.

New Year History :

A secular festival like New Year has a very ancient historic past attached to it. One of the earliest New Year celebrations was recorded in Mesopotamia in around 2000 B.C. But, it is considered that the celebrations of that New Year took place in the month of Spring on the first New Moon night. Whereas, a similar kind of celebration took place in Egypt and Persia on the Equinox, which falls in the month of winter season. The trend continued for many subsequent years until in around 150 B.C Romans fixed 1st January as the date to commence the cycle of the Gregorian New Year. The great King Julius Caesar made this attempt, which is followed till date. Thus, it is one of the old pagan festivals in the world.

New Year Traditions & Celebrations : However, there are many different traditions of celebrating New Year in different countries, yet the fervor and the intensity remains almost same all over. While some countries like United States of America and France hold parades in order to eulogize the occasion. While Chinese and Spanish people like to have a family dinner and then going out for celebrations, natives of Brazil enjoy New Year jubilations at street with colorful props. Making loud noises, having festive food and singing and dancing on jolly tunes is certainly the highlight of the day in any country across the world.

New Year Day Gifts :

New Year day gifts are an expression of wishing all luck and happiness in the upcoming year. There is no scarcity of New Year gifts in the market. Make this New Year all the more special with exquisite decorative items, floral gifts, motivational gifts, good luck charm gifts and even ready to give New Year gift baskets. To lend to your gift a special, personalized feel add a New Year Day card to it. Enticing range of greeting cards are available at a gift shop near you. You can also send free New Year greetings via internet as many websites offer such a facility.

New Year 2010 :

This time, New Year 2010 is going to fall on Thursday taking along a bundle of joy and energy so that we are full on stock for the rest of the year. There is a beautiful aura set on 31st December, that is the New Year Eve of every year. As soon as the right time would come, balloons will be released in the air, screaming sounds will be heard and firecracker show will be gracing the sky. Let us resolute ourselves to sustain the same happiness throughout the year.

in the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do

Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source : http://www.articlesbase.com/holidays-articles/get-complete-information-about-new-year-2010-1633263.html

Chinese New Year - Welcome the New Year in With a Great Celebration

The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, like Christmas, is the most revered holiday of the year. This is when family and friends gather to have lavishly prepared meals and celebrate the New Year. There are specific foods used for this celebration that are considered important elements for the meal if a prosperous year is to be ushered in. Daikon, a white radish, will ensure a long healthy life. Red of the red chilies symbolizes good luck. And, rice ensures harmony.

To add a little fun for the Little Ones, you can have them make Chinese dragon masks, and then put on their own Chinese New Years Dragon Parade! Or, they could learn what year the guests were born in, and what that means for them. Anything you choose to do will surely add good feelings to your party!

The colors used in the dinner for Chinese New Year are very significant if you wish to bring health, luck and harmony into your new year. The colors are beautiful and easily added to any meal or decorations. Take a little bit of time to research all the different colors and see what you can use to bring these wonderful elements into your party and the New Year for all who you are celebrating with.
Traditionally fireworks are set off for Chinese New Year, but where can you get fireworks in January? Think ahead. Buy some extra firework in July, make sure to get a lot of sparklers, so you have some for your Chinese New Year’s celebration. Sparklers are wonderful and relatively safe firework for any age! They look FANTASTIC on desserts as well!

If you’re going to celebrate Chinese New Year, planning an enjoyable and memorable occasion isn’t difficult if you make use of simple ideas like those above. Your /chinese-new-year/party will be remembered fondly for a long time to come.

in the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do

Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino

Celebrate the Chinese New Year in London

Yuletide celebrations may have come and gone, but Sunday the 10th of February will see celebration of the Chinese New Year, ringing in what is in Chinese astrology, the Year of the Rat. As the biggest city in Europe and one with a sizeable ethnic Chinese population, London's Chinese New Year celebrations will be amongst the most extravagant around the world - last year it was the largest in the world outside of Asia, attracting over 300,000 visitors.

In London, celebrations of the Chinese New Year are naturally concentrated around Chinatown, located in the Soho area of the City of Westminster and occupying the area in and around Gerrard Street. The site itself is a must-see for any tourist, and contains numerous Chinese restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets and Chinese souvenir shops.

Chinese New Year celebrations start at 11 am with the Grand Parade from Charing Cross Road to Trafalgar Square and admission is free of charge.

Following opening speeches, including ones by appointed officials, such as the President of the London Chinese Community Centre and Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, the celebrations kick off with the 'Dotting of the Lions' Eyes'. In this good-luck ceremony, two dancers wear a giant lion costume and the eyes are painted in to drive away evil spirits and bring the lion to life. Accompanying the waking lion are drumbeats, gongs and cymbals, starting off softly and building into an erupting crescendo as the lion awakes and begins to flick its ears, scratch and breathe. The lion then starts to dance as firecrackers go off.

Following this is the mesmerising Dragon Dance, an essential part of Chinese festivals for over two millennia. Historically a part of harvest rituals, today it symbolises the bringing of prosperity and good luck in the year ahead. The Dragon itself is a long, brightly painted serpent-shaped body on poles, worn by up to 8 dancers, with an ornamental head and tail.

At 1 pm the centre stage becomes a showcase for different talents from local and visiting performers. These include both contemporary and traditional arts, from dances to martial arts and music. An impressive display of talent, it promises to be one of the must-see parts of the celebrations.

The skies will light up with fireworks around Leicester Square every hour from 2 - 6 pm, and the celebrations then move from Trafalgar Square into Chinatown. Although it is always a lively part of London, this New Year the festive spirit is expected to be higher than ever, with the Beijing Olympics and London 2012 being integrated into the festivities. Home to over 78 restaurants offering everything from westernized Chinese food to traditional and gourmet delicacies, Chinatown can provide anyone with an appreciation for Chinese food something to suit their tastes.

in the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do

Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Regan

Traditional Chinese New Year Food

Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most important Chinese holidays. It falls in the first day of the first Chinese lunar month and ends fifteen days later. Food plays a huge part in this holiday, and served throughout the entire celebration. In Chinese tradition, most of the Chinese New Year food is symbolic of luck, fortune and wealth and the most common ones are those that are traditionally associated with fortune for the coming New Year, such as sticky rice cake, dumplings, and fish.

Chinese Dumplings: Chinese dumplings are one of the most favorite Chinese food, they are symbolic of togetherness of family, thus usually included in Chinese New Year recipes. They are typically filled with vegetables, meat, and authentic seasonings, but the combination of which varies from family to family.

Fish: Fish is another traditional Chinese New Year food, and often served for both the first and last course of the day. In Chinese tradition, serving the fish whole is considered as it will bring good fortune, and when the head and tail are still attacked, which becomes a symbolic of both a good beginning and ending in the year.

Chicken: Like fish, chicken is also served while, and serving whole chicken during Spring Festival promises that the family will remain together in the coming New Year.

Eggs: Eggs are symbolic of fertility, so Chinese New Year food always contains eggs, whether they are scrambled with vegetables, simmered in a hearty soup, or served whole as a snack.

Sticky Rice Cake: Another food traditionally found during Chinese New Year's celebrations. It is usually made with sticky rice and dates, and the traditional cooking method is steaming.

Noodles: Noodles are practically required during Chinese New Year, in Chinese culture, you should not cut them into shorts because the long shape symbolize a long life, otherwise it may bring bad luck during the year.

in the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do

Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hao_Luo