Most main holiday the year can be celebrated endlessly. Now and by lunar calendar... How to do it according to the rules? We study together with WomanJournal.ru.

Spring Festival

Lunar New Year is a holiday revered not only by Asian peoples, but also by people who respect Eastern culture, rituals and customs of this sophisticated nation. Many of us adore the culture of the East and dream of celebrating the New Year according to all the rules. How to do this and what should be observed, what dishes can be prepared from traditional beans or rice, and what should be avoided?

China

Spring Festival

Custom. Nowadays, probably, even the Chinese themselves do not know exactly when the custom of celebrating the New Year (in the Celestial Empire called the Spring Festival) appeared. Some ceremonies dedicated to this bright day, thank God, have sunk into oblivion. But many of them have survived and are being performed by all members of Chinese families. For example, there is a custom to put in the house a so-called money tree - a cypress branch inserted into a tub of fruit and rice. Copper coins are tied to the branch with red threads: in China, they believe that such a design can bring prosperity and good luck in the coming year.

What is customary to give. In China, families are treated with reverence, so pairing gifts are considered a sign of respect. For example, a pair of cups, a set bed linen for two, two food sets or two candles will bring much more positive emotions than one, but more expensive. After all, the main thing here is to observe traditions.

Home decoration. New Year's illustrations are hung on the walls, New Year's paired inscriptions are glued to the outer gates of houses. Sheets with wishes of happiness, health and well-being are pasted all over the house, and the windows of the houses shine with fantastic patterns that the owners cut out of paper.

Rice traditions

Dish. The festive table in the Middle Kingdom is fully prepared in advance. One of the popular and gourmet Chinese dishes is zongzi - rice dumplings.

Rice dumplings

Compound
½ cup rice

Rice traditions

Pepper, nutmeg
1 parsley
1 onion
4 carnations
1 small parsley
1 leek
1 carrot
1 turnip
2 eggs
3 rusks
¾ glasses of deep fat

Preparation
Boil 1.½ cups rice, strain through a colander, pour over cold water, put in a saucepan, season with salt and pepper, add nutmeg, 1 parsley, 1 onion stuffed with 4 cloves.
2. Cover, cook until soft. Remove the parsley and onion.
3. Cut very finely 1 parsley, 1 leek, 1 small carrot, a little bit of turnips and pour the broth until soft, put on a sieve, mix with rice.
4.Add the raw egg.
5. Shape the dumplings with a spoon and place in a cool place.
6.Cool the dumplings until they solidify, five minutes before serving, roll them in an egg and grated bread and deep-fry them, then dry them and serve decorated with herbs or dipped in broth.

Things to avoid The knife on the New Year's table is bad luck... It is believed that he kind of cuts off the luck of the family. You should not give a watch, because this image, in the opinion of the inhabitants of the porcelain country, is associated with death.

Japanese holiday

Japan

Custom. The Japanese believe: if on the most important day of the lunar calendar you stock up on a rake decorated expensive stones, painted with various drawings and ornaments, then the whole year they can rake in happiness. In the first seconds of the coming holiday, it is customary to laugh, then luck will not recede and a smile will shine on your face for all twelve months.

Japanese holiday

What is customary to give. Oseibo - so called Gift Baskets, which traditionally need to be handed in the morning. The sets include cans, pieces of scented toilet soap and other useful things for the household. This tradition originated in the days of the ancient samurai, who exchanged gifts of similar content.

Home decoration. It is customary for the Japanese, like the Chinese, to decorate the front doors. Bamboo and pine branches, symbols of longevity and fidelity, are the main decorations. In front of the house, the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun put a kadomatsu - a gate made of three bamboo sticks, to which pine branches are tied so that the deity will favor them all year round.

Dish. Mochi are traditional New Year's rice cakes, which no Japanese family can do without in the New Year.

Ingredients
Rice (the amount depends on the desired result)

Preparation
1. Rinse the rice.
2. Soak rice in water for 8-12 hours.
3. Drain the water. Place the rice in a colander for 15 minutes.
4. Place a towel on the bottom of the steam basket. Put mochi rice on top of one half of the towel, forming small "piles" from it with a depression in the middle. Cover the rice with the other half of the towel.
5. Close the lid and simmer for 30-50 minutes.
6. Place the mochi on the foil.
7. Without letting cool, beat off with a mallet. After wetting your hands with water, turn over to the other side. The main thing is not to pour water into the mochi by wetting your hands.

Things to avoid In no case are ordinary Japanese allowed to give flowers for the New Year: this is a gift only for imperial persons.

Instructions

Remember that for the right meeting year and by calendar it is worth preparing in advance. Find out what can be put on the table that day, and what is strictly prohibited, what colors in clothes and decoration are welcome and what not, what can be done to attract good luck, health and wealth to your home for the whole next year... Think about everything in advance - from the outfit to the color of tablecloths, cutlery and even candles. For example, in year The tiger was recommended to decorate the feast with striped candles.

Calculate what day it is year u will have a new celebration year but according to oriental traditions. Spring Festival, as it is also called, comes after winter solstice and is celebrated at midnight of the second new moon. On this night, the old master leaves - one of the twelve, and comes.

Note that it is not enough just to know that the next year will year om Tiger or, for example, Cat. In order to properly meet the new year in eastern calendar, please note that at each specific year the animal will correspond to one of five colors and elements. In total, this results in one sixty-year cycle, consisting of five twelve-year ones. So 2012 new year in eastern calendar will come on January 23, and its owner will be the Black Dragon (element - water).

Explore the legends and stories of the origins of the traditions of the Eastern New year a. Find out why the animals are lined up in that order, and for what reason in some year and several animals come into their own. This will help you delve deeper into the secrets of the celebration of this event and join the culture of China and Japan.

Determine your element in order to understand whether the owner of the upcoming will patronize you year a. Remember the last digit of your year a birth: water, the color of which is black and blue, is responsible for 2 and 3; white metal - for 0 and 1; the earth, which corresponds to the colors of ocher, lemon and yellow, took 8 and 9 for itself; 6 and 7 mean that your element is pink and red fire; and those born in year, ending in 4 and 5, live under the auspices of the tree, their colors are blue or green.

Do not forget to be sure to put on the table a treat for the patron of the upcoming year a, and then you can say for sure what is correct New year in eastern calendar.

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note

The Eastern New Year begins in February. Strictly speaking, Russian Santa Claus and his granddaughter cannot physically intersect with oriental cult animals. Everything that happens on the night of January 1, in the logic of Eastern traditions, is very conditional.

Useful advice

Unlike the Gregorian calendar (the one we are used to using) in the Eastern calendar, the New Year does not have a fixed date. It occurs on the first day of the first lunar month, and it can happen any day in January or even in February. 2012 according to the Eastern calendar will come on January 23 and will last until February 10, 2013 to replace the white (metal) Rabbit.

Chinese New Year it is customary to give an animal figurine, symbolizing the patron saint of the next 365 days. On this, the knowledge of most Europeans about the meeting of this holiday is limited, while the Celestial Empire has its own traditions from time immemorial. How to Celebrate New Year in Chinese?

Instructions

Wait until the winter solstice and count the second new moon from the date. The holiday usually falls at the end of January - mid-February. A new moon is when the moon is completely "dark", and not the appearance of a crescent moon, as it might be thought in other calendars. In China, this day is considered the beginning of spring and is called Chunjie.

Decorate the walls of the house beautiful drawings, inscriptions and wishes for the next year. Decorate the rooms with pine and cypress branches, coins, red lanterns. The symbol of the New Year is tangerines, which are usually given to each other by two. Orange citrus fruits are used to decorate the home a few days before the onset of the holiday. Fruit must also be on the New Year's table. The phrase "a pair of tangerines" in Chinese is consonant with the word "gold".

Cover festive table... It is customary to prepare treats in advance, so that a few hours before the onset of the New Year, you will not frighten off good spirits with a knife. According to legends, there should be an abundance of different treats on the table. The traditional dish is dumplings called "jiao-tzu", a soup with dumplings or noodles.

Get together with your relatives on the eve of the desired date, because New Year is a family holiday. The streets of China at this time are quiet and deserted, because everyone is at home. According to tradition, you should be in scarlet clothes, it is this color that scares away all evil spirits. Instruct the head of the family to seal the door of the dwelling with red strips of paper with New Year's symbols so that the monsters cannot interfere with the arrival of the patron saint and good spirits.

Give gifts to family members. Traditionally, these can be tigers, dragons, fish, decorations in the form of the hieroglyph "happiness", red lanterns, firecrackers. For the New Year, it is customary to give paired items as a sign of wishes for family well-being. Red envelopes for money - hongbao - are in great demand for the holiday. It is believed that the glitter of coins and rustling of banknotes scares away evil spirits. This red envelope is a must-have for children.

Stock up on firecrackers and firecrackers. Traditionally, the cunning Chinese use pyrotechnics and lights to scare away a terrible monster nicknamed Nian. If it appears, then the cold sets in, the water in the rivers freezes, plants and flowers die. But if you frighten off the monster Nian, then the fertile season will come again. At twelve o'clock sharp, launch fiery rockets and colorful fireworks into the sky.

On the days of the holiday, traditional performances are always held. It can be dragon dances, lion dances, street festivities. New Year in China for a whole week. Residents of the Celestial Empire pay a visit to all their relatives, visit friends.

Now there is a tendency to celebrate not only traditional Russian, but also some foreign holidays. Among them there are very interesting and rich traditions, for example, New year according to the Chinese calendar. In China itself, it is celebrated on a large scale, but in Russia this holiday can also be fun and interesting.

Instructions

Find out the date of the Chinese New year in that year at. It changes as the traditional Chinese calendar is based not on the solar but on the lunar calendar. New year occurs on the first new moon after the winter solstice, that is, between January 21 and February 21, for example, in 2012 year it will come on January 23rd. To determine the date in the following year use the comparative table posted on the site "12 months" - http://12.net.ua/calendar/chinese.htm

Choose the clothes you want to wear to celebrate the holiday. According to Chinese tradition, in New year wearing red clothing is encouraged. Also, every upcoming year but it has its own official color, for example, 2012 has black. Elements of this color can also be added to a suit. In clothes, especially for children, you can also use carnival elements, for example, masks, since the festive procession in costumes is an obligatory part of the festival in Chinese cities.

Decide where you want to celebrate this holiday - at home or in a restaurant. If you choose the second option, a few weeks before the holiday, call the Chinese restaurants in your city and find out if they have any special programs for celebrating on New Day. year a. Many of these establishments not only organize a festive program, but also prepare special dishes, traditionally served on a festive table.

If you want to stay at home for the holiday, decorate your home. The traditional Chinese decoration element is red lanterns, which you can make yourself from colored paper or buy in oriental souvenir shops.

Another traditional element of the Chinese New year a is fireworks. Be careful about their choice, buy pyrotechnics only in stores with an appropriate license. If you don't have the ability to launch them, limit yourself to sparklers - they can be used indoors.

Prepare some special Chinese novo for home celebration. year food. In many Chinese families on New year served on the table different kinds dumplings. In Chinese dumplings, in addition to minced meat, you can add garlic, celery, ginger root, even rice noodles. Also popular are dumplings made from special rice dough. Cooking dumplings also has a symbolic meaning that binds the family - this dish is traditionally prepared by everyone together, and during the preparation they sing a new year song. In addition to dumplings, on the table for New year various types of noodles with sauces are often served. The table should be abundantly covered - this is a good omen, promising abundance in the upcoming year at.

Having prepared everything you need, on New Day year and start the meeting with friends and family with a festive dinner. After that, you can exchange gifts - in China, money is often given for this holiday as a wish for abundance in the next year at. And then, if possible, you can set aside time to launch fireworks.

It is always a shame when the New Year holidays, preparations for which have been going on for more than one month, end too quickly. Extend yourself winter holidays and celebrate the New Year again - according to the Chinese calendar.

Instructions

Clean up your apartment. The tradition of celebrating the coming year in a clean and tidy house is common for most peoples. You should not take on a broom and doormat on New Year's day. According to Chinese signs, this way you can sweep out all the luck and prosperity along with the dust. It is best to tidy up a few days before the main celebration.

Keep the peace in your family. On the eve of the Chinese New Year, you cannot use curses, quarrel with family and friends, or make comments to anyone. Complain, cry, take offense and generally demonstrate negative emotions on a public holiday is also not worth it. It is not even advised to use negative syntactic forms in your speech. It is believed that this can attract unhappiness.

Do not carry on conversations on taboo topics, the list of which looks quite impressive. First of all, one cannot discuss old year... The tradition of taking stock of one's successes and failures, adopted in Russia, will have to be forgotten. New Year's Eve is not worth telling Mystic stories about spirits, ghosts and other otherworldly forces, since the border between the world of people and the world of fabulous creatures on a festive night becomes too thin. It is also better to forget about everyday and financial problems, at least without discussing them at the table.

Have a festive dinner. There are no strict restrictions on the New Year's menu. The main thing is that the symbol of the year in fried or boiled form should not get on your table. A small toy or ceramic figurine in the center of the table, on the contrary, will be in place. For the Chinese, fondue is a traditional New Year's dish. A pot with sauce or broth, where each of the guests in turn dips his piece of meat, symbolically unites all those gathered at the festive table.

Decorate your home. The happiest color among the Chinese is red, but you can use all color palette, with the exception of the white one, which in the Heavens is symbolically associated with sorrow and death. Place fresh flowers, baskets with tangerines, oranges and gifts throughout the house. Red couplets, which are popular in China, can become a special decoration. On a large red thick paper stretch, write wishes for peace, happiness and good luck to yourself and your family. V new year's eve all wishes will come true!

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note

Avoid the number "4" when placing candles or inviting guests. In China, this number is considered unlucky.

Sources:

• How to Celebrate Chinese New Year

New Year is one of the brightest and most beloved holidays of the year. It is celebrated by people all over the world, and each nation has its own, very important traditions. According to ancient rituals, the New Year is also held in China. This is really very important holiday for the inhabitants of this country, since it is this time that is considered a new stage in the development of nature - it wakes up from hibernation.

Instructions

Remember that New Year is family holiday, which should be met only with the closest relatives. Before the evening comes, all doors should be sealed with colored paper so that evil spirits cannot break into cozy home... Decorate the walls and windows with words of gratitude and wishes of happiness. Try to get hold of dragon, turtle, phoenix and cilipus figurines, as such a composition will bring prosperity and joy to your home.

Then perform a ceremony of burning money, toys and clothes. The Chinese buy such symbolic doll clothes and fake money in the market. You can easily make them yourself. When these things are burned, smoke flies into the air, which, as the Chinese believe, subsequently turns into real analogues.

And now, finally, the moment comes when God, the patron saint of the hearth, penetrates into the house. Greet him with a bowl of simple beans. The fact is that the Chinese are thus trying to pity the deity. Only after such a ritual meeting can all the dishes be put on the table.

Make the menu very carefully. On the table must be those products that have a symbolic meaning for the further well-being of your family. Be sure to cook some kind of fish dish, as it means abundance. Tangerines, on the other hand, symbolize wealth, so be sure to stock up on these traditional fruits too. The symbol of wealth is beans stewed in syrup, so it is advisable that this product also be present on your New Year's table. And remember that on New Year's Eve nothing can be cut, and it is advisable to hide the knives. The Chinese believe that by using a knife you can cut off all your luck.

New Year is a wonderful holiday that will be pleasant to celebrate even twice.

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note

The Chinese celebrate the New Year, or Spring Festival, according to the lunar calendar, which is slightly different from the traditional Gregorian. For example, New Year 2012 for Chinese will start on February 23rd. The traditions of this holiday are very interesting and at the same time quite simple, which allows almost any fan to meet it. oriental culture.

Chinese New Year is significantly different from the traditional Russian New Year holiday. Firstly, the date of the celebration is not stable, but is calculated according to the lunar calendar. Secondly, in China, completely different New Year's customs.

Instructions

According to legend, in ancient times a dragon lived in China, who once a year descended from the mountain to attack people. Before his arrival, residents put things in order, put on nice clothes, gave each other gifts and prepared delicious dishes, because they did not know if they could survive until the morning. Families came together to protect each other. It turned out that the dragon is afraid of loud noise and red color. And then every year on this night people began to dress in red, decorate houses with red handicrafts, light fires and start up fireworks. The dragon had to fly back, and the happy Chinese congratulated each other. Therefore, today in China they are rather celebrating not the beginning of the new year, but getting rid of problems. The Chinese often call this holiday a spring holiday - as a rule, it falls on the end of January or February.

Before the Chinese New Year, you need to thoroughly clean your house or apartment. Everything should shine with cleanliness, and it is advisable to start cleaning a couple of days before the holiday - but not on New Year's day. It is believed that this way you can sweep good luck out of the house.

If you want to follow exactly Chinese traditions, observe New Year's signs: for example, on the eve of the holiday, you cannot wash or cut your hair, you cannot borrow money, talk about death, punish children, mention the old year, complain or cry. On the eve of the celebration, remove all cutting objects away so that the path to happiness is not cut off. Some omens seem strange, but most contribute to creating an atmosphere of fun and joy on New Year's Eve.

Dress in red or any color other than white - the mourning color in China. Clothes should be smart and clean. By the way, the Chinese have never heard of the tradition of dressing in the color of the symbol of the coming year. Decorate the house with red decorations: wishes for happiness and money in the New Year, lanterns, couplets on red paper. Such crafts are sold in specialized shops with oriental souvenirs. Place bowls of dried fruit, oranges, and candy around the house. Light it all up lighting in the house and garlands - there should be as much light as possible.

On New Year's Eve, the Chinese eat dumplings, long noodles, fondue made from meat, fish or squid. They are very fond of various symbols, so on a holiday they even specially prepare and serve dishes whose names resemble Nice words, a appearance symbolizes happiness, wealth or longevity.

Present for the New Year only money in red envelopes, and only an even amount, which is determined in this country by the first digit (for example, 74 is an odd number). The number 4 should also not be found in the amount of money, and it is highly desirable that it contains an eight, since this word is pronounced almost the same as “wealth”.

Put on fireworks outside. The Chinese invented this amazing entertainment, and they still have no equal in the magnificent fireworks they create for the New Year. In addition, on this night in China all the lights are lit, cars and boats are lit. Some go to rivers and lakes and launch boats with candles installed in them.

Decide on the date of the holiday. Unlike the European New Year, the Chinese holiday is celebrated every year at different dates... Typically, the Chinese New Year comes at the end of winter, in January or February, depending on the lunar calendar. The Chinese do not count the New Year winter holiday... Even its name itself is translated as "Spring Festival". New Year symbolizes the end of cold weather and the beginning of a new cycle in nature.

Get the whole family together. In China, New Year is a family holiday, when all relatives come from the farthest corners of the country and gather in one house.

Clean the house very carefully. Cleaning before the New Year is a kind of ritual. By getting rid of garbage, you will clear the way for happiness and wealth that rush to your home. Hang an image of a red fish on the door - this is a symbol of prosperity. Decorate windows and doors with red silk or paper lanterns. According to Chinese beliefs, red scares away evil spirits.

The Chinese spend colossal amounts of money, driven by tradition.

According to an ancient myth, on New Year's Eve, a terrible horned monster named Nian crawled out of the sea foam and devoured people and cattle. This happened annually, until one day, on New Year's Eve, an old beggar came to the village of Tao Hua with a sack and a cane. The old man asked for food and shelter, and only one elderly woman offered the poor fellow food and lodging. The beggar thanked her and promised to drive the monster away. He dressed in red, painted the doors of houses with red paint, turned on the lights and started making noise with bamboo "fire rattles" (the very first pyrotechnics were invented in China). Nian, seeing this, was afraid to approach the village. Soon all the surrounding villages knew how to drive the monster away. In honor of the release from the Nanny, the residents organized a noisy celebration.

Since then, during Chun Jie, the streets of cities turn red from lanterns and decorations, and the sky is lit up with grandiose fireworks. Indispensable New Year's attributes are red, incense, fireworks, firecrackers and firecrackers.

As for the celebration, first of all, on the first New Year's Eve, one should not sleep: it is necessary to guard the year (this tradition is called "show sui"). During the first five holidays it is customary to visit each other, but you cannot give gifts. The exception is small children who receive pocket money in red ("ya-sui qian").

Festive New Year dishes in China are those whose names are consonant with the words "happiness", "prosperity", etc. Basically, these are meat, fish, bean curd, tofu.

During the festival in China, deceased ancestors are honored and offerings are made to their spirits. Festive gifts to spirits are, as a rule, specific decorations and dishes: legumes and boiled rice. Chun Jie ends with a large-scale Festival of lanterns that are lit in the streets.

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Instructions

New year meet in the East on the first day of the winter new moon. The date of the celebration always comes at different time according to the lunar calendar. It falls between January 20 and February 20, so calculate it. Every celebration has begun year and mark in a special way - in accordance with the one of the twelve animals, to which, according to ancient legend, Buddha gave one by one year at the reign on Earth: Rooster, Monkey, Sheep, Horse, Snake, and Pig. As well as Dog, Dragon, Hare, Tiger, Ox and Rat.

That is, when meeting the New year but please his master - cook exactly those dishes that this beast prefers. Decorate the home appropriately: display a symbol or a figurine in a prominent place year a. Do not anger the animal, otherwise the whole year will fail. Depending on which digit ends in year, it belongs to a certain symbolism. For example, count 9 and 8 year ami yellow color, 7 and 6 - red, 5 and 4 - blue, 3 and 2 - black, 1 and 0 - white. Dress for the holiday according to the color year a.

Preparing to meet the New year but start long before it. Perform a general cleaning of your home. Pay in advance all taxes and arrears to enter the new debt-free period. Attach pine branches on the gate of the house or on the doors. On the walls, hang ribbons with coins, masks of people, lanterns and notes with wishes in the form of quatrains. According to feng shui, hang glitter tinsel in the northeast and north for academic and career success. For success in business and health, decorate the center of your home with a shiny iridescent or electric flashlight. Do not decorate the mirror and bed with rain and serpentine, so as not to induce conflicts and disappointments.

Celebrate Eastern New year 15 days of which wear only new clothes... For a festive table, cook seafood, round cakes made from rice flour in vegetable oil, beans, rice soup, pasta, meat and triangular dumplings seasoned with hot garlic and soy sauces, salads and sweets. Put each type of food in a certain place. Place fruits and rice dishes in the middle of the table. Place meat dishes on the west side, and fish dishes on the east. Place the rest of the dishes in the empty spaces.

On the day of the beginning of the New year but visit all the relatives, bow at the feet of the eldest of them. Then exchange gifts. Among the gifts, give to adults and children coins wrapped in red paper packaging. This means a wish for welfare and prosperity. In addition, it is customary to give and expensive gifts... Before the commencement of the celebration, commemorate your ancestors at the sacrificial table. Put rice with water, vodka and burning incense on it.

In the square, take part in grand processions and mass costumed performances with fireworks, stilts, firecrackers, paper dragons and tigers. And in the evening, gather with your household at the table, help yourself, wish each other health, happiness, success and love.

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Useful advice

In Russia, the Eastern New Year is celebrated in Buryatia, in the North Caucasus, in Krasnodar and other Buddhist regions.

Sources:

• When to celebrate the new year 2009 according to the Eastern calendar
• How and what to celebrate 2009 according to the Eastern calendar

China does not celebrate a shift of the year, and getting rid of adversity and the onset of spring. The traditions of this day come from an old legend about a terrible huge dragon. On the first night of spring, this mythical beast crawled out of its cave to eat as much as possible more people... The inhabitants of China were afraid that they would not live until the morning, so they diligently put their houses and affairs in order, put on the best clothes to face death with dignity. The whole family got together for the supposed last supper. But once people noticed how the terrible dragon was frightened by noise, fire, red color. Therefore, they began to put on bright red clothes, set off noisy fireworks, and light lanterns. The frightened monster fled shamefully, and the Chinese celebrated their deliverance from him.

You will need

• - elegant clothes;
• - sparklers;
• - wishes on red paper.

Instructions

Get your home perfectly clean ahead of time new year's day, otherwise you will sweep good luck out of your home. Move cutting tools (knives, scissors) away so as not to cut off the path to your apartment for happiness and good luck. Do not sleep this night and do not let any of your family members sleep! You can not celebrate the Eastern New Year in the bedroom and bed. Even small children and sick people should be festively dressed and take part in the festive meal.

Do not swear or complain, do not remember bad things and do not lend money, do not punish children or talk about illness, do not cut your hair or talk about ghosts. All this, according to Chinese beliefs, can bring misfortune on you in the new year. Rejoice yourself and amuse your loved ones, bring light to people! In this case, your coming year will be successful and happy.

Choose your very best meeting attire for Chinese of the year... This does not mean that you should wear an expensive but formal suit. The vibrant red, sparkle and sparkle are the perfect fit for the night. Now the Chinese wear dresses of any color, but not white (in China, it means grief and death).

Decorate your home in red. Get traditional Chinese wishes written in calligraphic handwriting on red paper. Usually it says: "Peace and tranquility for the whole year" and "May there always be peace and tranquility." Place dishes and bowls of oranges, tangerines, sweets and dried fruits everywhere. Fresh flowers are very popular in China this night. Light all available candles, lanterns, garlands - so that it all sparkles, flickers, blinks and shimmers.

Prepare meals that symbolize wealth and prosperity. You cannot break and cut long noodles - this is longevity. If you have the opportunity, order a traditional Chinese food served at the Chinese restaurant, which is served on the table when meeting the Eastern New of the year... Or you can just buy everything that you love, that you want to see on your holiday table, which will mean luxury for you.

Give each other money in small red envelopes. The amount must be even, but must not contain the number four (this is an unlucky number for the Chinese). It is better if the total is eight, it is consonant with "wealth". Congratulations and greetings, wish your loved ones financial prosperity and prosperity.

Be careful with fireworks and salutes. You can limit yourself to sparklers and firecrackers, all the same, nothing can compare in beauty with fireworks in China. On New Year's Eve, they last for several hours. People on the streets admire the twinkling stars, flowers, mythical characters and wishes for happiness. The water of the rivers and bays of China is filled with homemade boats with burning lanterns and lamps.

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Sources:

• How to properly celebrate the Chinese New Year

More recently, the new has died down old holidays in European style. And, it seems, we took them off quite well, but ... there are many who want to celebrate the New Year again, this time according to the Eastern calendar. For this, of course, the notorious "basin" with Olivier and the traditional Christmas tree are not suitable. An oriental holiday should also have special customs. How should you celebrate the year of the black dragon?

Instructions

Start preparing for the Eastern New Year in the same way as you prepared for our traditional holiday: with a thorough cleaning of the apartment. According to ancient oriental beliefs, you are thus preparing a place for a new life, sweeping all hardships and failures out of your home. But just before the holiday, you should remove all the attributes of cleaning away from your eyes so that luck does not go away with the garbage.

Now go about decorating your home. Place a money tree (in China, this is usually a cypress tree, placed in a bowl of fruit and rice), tie coins to it with red ribbons - for welfare. Hang up colorful or red lanterns. Cut out various fantastic figures from paper and decorate the windows with them. An obligatory element is also leaflets, hung in all rooms, with wishes of happiness and well-being.

pay attention to color scheme your holiday. The main palette with which you must meet the Dragon should contain black, blue and red colors. Water (which is black in Chinese) is strengthened by metal, so use white and silver as well. Clothes should also contain mainly these colors, but do not forget about bright and shiny decorations.

One of the most important attributes of celebrating the New Year in an oriental way, as elsewhere, is a festive table with treats. Place a white tablecloth and shiny cutlery. Put red napkins or vases of this color, candles nearby. Dishes on the table should be glass or porcelain, crystal and silver are also allowed, but not clay. Make sure that there is nothing square in the table setting. Also avoid sharp corners and symmetrical arrangement of appliances. Never put a knife on the table.

Give preference to dishes prepared with fish and seafood. Naturally, waterfowl are also suitable - duck or goose. Serve fruits and vegetables red or white. These can be pears, apples, pomegranates, frozen berries - raspberries, currants, cranberries, bell peppers, tomatoes, watermelons, etc. Don't forget tangerines and oranges too. By the way, a Christmas tree decorated with tangerines and tangerines as a gift to guests is the very thing: this is an ancient oriental tradition.

Serving elements of the earth, that is, dishes with a sweet taste, as well as yellow vegetables, potatoes and other root vegetables grown in the ground, are not supposed to be served on the table. Remember that there should be a pair of dishes on the table. From drinks, vodka and beer should be preferred.

One of the important New Year's traditions in Chinese is the preparation of dumplings on the eve of the holiday. They are molded by the whole family, and this is considered a symbol good wishes household members, longevity of parents. A coin is put into one dumpling, and whoever gets it will be happy for a whole year.

For the chimes, prepare paper lanterns with a wick soaked in sesame oil for everyone who is celebrating with you. When the clock strikes, they are set on fire in the East, and by the color of the burning wick they determine what year will be. Those who have a red flame will be especially happy. And be sure to laugh: in Japan and China (and in our country too) they say that as you meet this year, you will live it.

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According to the Gregorian calendar, the New year comes January 1st. And most of the world celebrates his arrival. But there is also another start date year a, the calculation of which is tied to the lunar cycle. This is the so called Eastern New year, celebrated according to Chinese traditions.

Instructions

Eastern New year- the most solemn and magnificent holiday of the peoples of the East. It is officially celebrated in China, the Philippines, Thailand, the island of Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia. Novo year festivities last two days of the day, not counting pre-holiday day.

The date is determined by the lunar calendar. The second new moon following the date of the winter solstice is considered the beginning year a. Thus, it falls between January 21 and February 21. In the current year it's February 3rd.

Every Eastern New year passes under the symbol of the corresponding sign, and in Mongolia, in addition, each year associated with a specific color. In China, in the northern part of the country, a flowering peach branch is installed in the house for the holiday, and in some houses tangerine trees with wonderful sunny fruits are placed, which symbolize prosperity and prosperity. This is due to the fact that it was during this period that tangerine, almond, apricot and peach trees began to bloom in North China. The streets of the Celestial Empire are also abundantly decorated with bouquets of flowers and flowering tree branches.

The southern inhabitants of the country traditionally decorate their homes with a blossoming apricot branch, where it certainly has five petals. In the place of honor in the dwellings, the owners always put watermelons, the core of which is red, which symbolizes the arrival of good luck in the coming year at.

In our country, the New Year tops the list of the most beloved holidays. No wonder, some even celebrate it twice: on January 1 and 14. When the New Year's holidays are over, you can sadly remove the tree and other holiday attributes until next December. Or you can leave nothing and celebrate the New Year again - according to Eastern traditions. The start date of the holiday is determined by the lunisolar calendar. According to him, the Chinese New Year in 2018 starts on February 16.

A bit of history

The history of New Year's celebration in the Celestial Empire is shrouded in legends. According to one of them, the holiday is associated with a terrible monster named Chun (Nan). This monster once a year attacked a small village, the inhabitants of which were forced to hide from him in the mountains. Once a beggar old man came to the village and asked permission to one of the residents to stay in her house during the attack of the monster. The woman tried to dissuade the old man, but in the end she allowed him to stay. The next day, returning to their village, instead of devastation, local residents saw unharmed houses and the same old man in red clothes. The old man was laughing, and around him lights were shining and firecrackers were thundering.

It turned out that Nan is afraid of the bright red color and cannot stand loud sounds. Now the villagers no longer hid in the mountains, and once a year they organized noisy merry celebrations so that the evil monster never again came to their lands.

When the New Year begins in China

New Year is not in vain considered the largest holiday in China. Preparation for it takes several weeks. It is considered very important during this period to finish all business, pay off debts and throw away unnecessary things in order to start the year from a new clean page. The house is thoroughly cleaned by the start of the celebration.

Instead of Christmas tree the Chinese decorate the Tree of Light by hanging numerous decorations, garlands and lanterns on it.

The day the new year begins is also known as the Spring Festival. According to local beliefs, this day leaves the old year, and with it the winter. The awakening of nature is noisily greeted with numerous fireworks, festivities and fairs. The celebration lasts 15 days.

The Chinese spend the eve of the holiday of the year with their loved ones. The family table is served with a variety of treats, fish, chicken, seafood, sweets. Dumplings are a traditional New Year's meal in China. It is believed that the richer and tastier it will be New Year's table, the more satisfying life will be in the coming year. At midnight, all doors and windows are opened in the house, clearing the way for the passing old year.

In the first days of the year, Chinese people meet with friends and family, go to visit each other to congratulate each other and celebrate the beginning of the new year together.

The Spring Festival date is set after the winter solstice on the first new moon, hence the Chinese New Year is between January 21st and February 21st of each year.

Symbols of the coming year

The cycle of the eastern calendar includes 12 animals, which are the patrons of each coming year. In addition to animals, the calendar includes five elements (water, earth, metal, fire and wood), which also alternate. Thus, each year in China is symbolized by a combination that is repeated only once every 60 years.

Eastern symbolism has firmly entered the tradition of celebrating our country, setting the mood New Year's decorations and gift souvenirs.

Chinese New Year 2018 will symbolize the animal Dog and the elements of the Earth. The main color of the year is yellow. By the way, the chronology in China is different from ours. The coming year of the Dog will be the year 4716 according to the eastern calendar.

In China, it is not customary to give expensive gifts. However, congratulations are rarely complete without a gift. Traditional New Year's gifts in China are considered:

1. Banknotes. It is customary in China to give money to children. They are packed in red envelopes and given to every child who is on the doorstep in the first 15 days of the new year. It is believed that this tradition brings good luck in the coming year.
2. Symbols of the year. A popular gift is souvenirs depicting an animal that is the patron saint of the year. In the coming year, these are figures of dogs and various objects with their image.
3. Paired gifts. It is customary in China to give small two-piece gifts for the New Year. These can be glasses, paired figurines and other gizmos. The two parts of one whole symbolize harmony and well-being in the family.

Gifts (except for envelopes with money for children) are usually given before leaving. Guests often do it secretly, almost unnoticed by the hosts.

Also in China there is an ancient tradition of handing two tangerines to the hosts at the entrance. When leaving, guests receive two other tangerines in return. This gesture is to wish each other good luck and wealth, as tangerines symbolize gold.

How to properly celebrate the year of the Yellow Earth Dog

To coming year was successful and successful, you can use some tips from Chinese traditions in the New Year's celebration:

1. The celebration of the coming year must begin with preparation. It will not be superfluous, according to oriental customs, to get rid of all the excess trash that has accumulated in the house. It is worth reconsidering your grievances, dealing with debts and unresolved issues. If the New Year in your family begins in 2018 in a friendly and warm atmosphere, rest assured that the Yellow Dog will help support her throughout the year.
2. Home decoration is best done in yellow, gold, light brown and pale greenish tones. They correspond to the color of the elements of the Earth, patronizing the coming year.
3. Don't celebrate alone. The Chinese on New Year's Eve necessarily surround themselves with loved ones. In addition, the dog symbolizing the coming year is a herd animal, so it is better not to contradict her and celebrate the holiday in pleasant company.
4. The festive table must necessarily include meat or poultry dishes. The dog prefers meat food, and in the celebration of the coming year, it is better to try to please her.
5. Clothes and accessories are also worth choosing from colors yellowish tint. The dog is a conservative, so do not overdo it with extreme short dresses and bright shiny accessories.

New Year's celebrations can be extended over two months. They can begin according to the traditions of our country on the night of January 1 and continue until the New Year according to the Chinese calendar, which starts on February 16 and is celebrated for 2 more weeks. For those who believe New Year's celebration most beloved, this is a great opportunity to extend Christmas mood and recharge with a positive attitude for the entire coming year.

In Russia, as in the rest of the world, the New Year is celebrated on the night of December 31 to January 1, but Christians still honor the date according to the old style, and Buddhists in Buryatia, Tuva, Kalmykia and Altai are guided by chinese calendar and they are waiting for Sagaalgan or "Spring Festival". All these customs have one link - the expectation of a miracle. It doesn't matter who is ordered to do it - Santa Claus or the animal appointed by the ruler, the main thing is readiness for the best. And so that the magical changes are not spared, you have to keep your ears open!

2018 in the oriental tradition

The winter solstice is coming to an end, so very soon the first new moon after the full cycle will come. It remains to find out what date this event will occur. According to the calculations of the ancient sages of the Celestial Empire, in 2018 it falls on February 16. It is from this date that the next round will begin, and it will be led by a devoted, kind and intelligent Dog with personal attributes befitting a totem animal:

• Yellow color- a symbol of stability and prudence.
• Element: earth, endowing its representatives with firmness and a sober outlook on life.
• Specific traits- loyalty, friendliness, responsibility and discretion.

It is believed that the New Year must necessarily resolve all long-standing disputes, forget about offenses and forgive others.

New Year: Chinese Version

In the Celestial Empire, there is a legend that tells about one of the local settlements, which Chun (Nan), a terrible and ferocious monster, got in the habit of attacking once a year. On one of these days, an old man wandered into the village and asked to spend the night with one of the women. He did not know what time he came, and the hostess tried to persuade the guest to run away with everyone as soon as possible, but since old man completely exhausted, let him stay.

Imagine the surprise of the local residents when, returning to the village at dawn, they saw their houses intact. In the middle of the square, they were met by a laughing old man in red robes, surrounded by crackers and tinsel that burst out of the crackers. It turns out that Nan was frightened by the red color, lights and loud noises.

How is the holiday celebrated in the PRC?

2018 or according to the eastern calendar 4716 lunar year in the Celestial Empire is planned to be celebrated, as usual, on a large scale and fun. The festivities will last 15 days, 7 of which the Chinese will not work. During this period, it was accepted:

1. get rid of unnecessary and broken things;
2. to restore order and beauty in houses;
3. prepare delicious meat and fish dishes;
4. decorate the home with paired drawings and crafts.

The question of what to meet and how to celebrate is solved here simply. Most wear red. People believe that this color brings happiness and prosperity, because it was in such clothes that the elder was dressed, who laid the foundation for the holiday. Lanterns of the same shade are hung on the thresholds of houses, music and laughter sound. Fireworks and firecrackers explode everywhere. All family members gather at one table and have fun, as they believe that the whole year will depend on the festive mood.

Why Yellow Earth Dog?

One day the Buddha invited all the animals to a feast. Those wishing to share a meal with the Enlightened One had to swim across a huge lake. The first 12 received a year as a reward, which was endowed with their character traits, and they began to draw strength from 5 elements of different colors:

1. Red fire
2. Black water,
3. Yellow earth,
4. Blue and green tree
5. White metal.

In 2018, the turn of the dog falls, the eleventh to reach the coast. What this animal will bring to everyone, astrologers will see from the horoscope. In general, the totem will begin to behave in accordance with its inherent habits and how the wards will react to it. No wonder they say: "Life is like a dog." Perhaps she will be home and therefore light, well-fed and happy, or, on the contrary, wandering, which means hungry, embittered and "biting".