Press Space :D 新年快樂明! (Chinese) Chúc mừng tết Nguyên Đán! (Vietnamese) 새해 복 많이 받으세요! (Korean) (This is not all of the languages of countries who celebrate new year) ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ Happy Lunar New Year! It's Lunar New Year time again, but some of you may be asking, what is Lunar New Year? You may also have heard it as Chinese New Year, but I wanted to be more general :D ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ Many Asian countries follow a different calendar than those in Western countries. They follow a Lunar calendar, which follows the moon, and so every year Lunar New Year is on a different day. This year, on February 15-16, families all around the world will celebrate their new year. For example, Chinese families will often clean their homes to "sweep away the bad spirits", wear red and gold, and hang fireworks. You might have heard of Lion or Dragon Dancers, who are people who wear these beautiful Lion/Dragon costumes and do cool acrobatic stunts. Also, many children receive money in red envelopes, and put them under their pillow when they go to sleep to receive good luck. The Chinese also mark the year by a different animal; Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. To find your zodiac sign go here: https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/ This year, 2018, is the year of the dog. I personally am a rooster. (There is also a whole elemental system but it is ridiculously complex) ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ Which countries traditionally celebrate Lunar New Year? China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mauritius, Australia, and the Philippines. (Many countries with immigrants from these places also celebrate new year) ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ There are many traditional legends about Lunar New Year, and the most famous one is about the monster, Guo Nian. Once upon a time, in ancient China, there was a monster called Guo Nian. He had a long head, and sharp horns, and only came out of his hiding place on New Year's Day, to eat people and cattle. Because of this, the villagers often fled to the high mountains on New Year's Eve in order to not be eaten. But one day, an old man visited the village. He was not afraid of Guo Nian, and he managed to scare away the monster by putting red paper on doors, burning bamboo (which evolved into fireworks), lighting candles, hanging red lanterns, and wearing red clothing. When the villagers returned, they were happy to see that their village was not destroyed. Every year after that, the old man told the villagers how to scare away Nian, and that tradition has carried until today. More legends about new year: https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/festivals/chinese-new-year-legends.htm ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year Whew! Thanks for reading, and I hoped you liked it! I would like to know: If you celebrate, What are your Lunar New Year's traditions? I personally go eat food with my family, exchange gifts, and wear red. Art at the beginning: Music: The picture is a dog- who is meant to look like the red lanterns hung on new year. It also says Happy New Year in Chinese on his chest, and fireworks are bursting in the background. If you enjoyed the project, please leave a like, favorite, or even comment! I'd really appreciate it!
