BtN finds out more about Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year

Now you might have been wondering why a lot of people around the world celebrated New Year on the weekend. After all wasn't New Year last month? Well it all has to do with the moon and Andrea has been finding out why.

ANDREA NICOLAS, REPORTER: In fairytales, Dragons are usually pretty scary. The sort of creatures you want to steer clear of. But in China its just the opposite they're a symbol of good luck. And that's why you see them in streets and restaurants during Chinese New Year celebrations.

This dragon used in Melbourne celebrations is nearly 70 metres long and needs around 200 people to carry it! It's made of silk, paper and bamboo.

But why is Chinese New year in February?

Chinese New Year follows a different calendar to the one used in Australia - it's called the Lunar calendar. Each New Year falls on a different date in January or February depending on the phases of the moon. This year the New Year started on February 18th with the new moon.

Astrology is also a big part of Chinese celebrations and every New Year is named after one of 12 animals.

It comes from the Chinese legend where an Emperor held a race to decide which animals would be in it. In the legend, the sneaky rat hitched a ride on the back of the ox and crossed the winning line first. So the rat is the first animal in the cycle.

And 2007 is the year of the pig!

The Chinese zodiac suggests that if you're born into the year of a certain animal you take on its characteristics, rats are cunning, a tiger is brave and a dog is lucky.

I'm actually born in the year of the pig. The Chinese zodiac says people born in the year of the pig are generous and have really good manners. They're also really intelligent! It also says something about being clumsy but you can't believe everything you read.

REPORTER: What do you think? (asks a piglet)

Chinese New Year doesn't happen overnight - it's celebrated for 15 days! It's known as the Spring Festival and has many traditions to make sure the coming year is a lucky one.

These high school students learn the Chinese language and have been studying some of those New Year traditions.

HANG: During New Years Eve you shouldn't clean up because it's believed that when you clean up you're sweeping all the good luck out of the house. And usually there's going to be dragon dancing and firecrackers to ward away evil spirits.

ROHAN: In China they have dumplings in the shape of money. They eat the dumplings and they're meant to get rich because of it. Yeah it's all about money really.

ANDREA NICOLAS, REPORTER: People are also given 'lucky money' in red envelopes.

CLAIRE: Red colour means lucky and that's also why they have it in their flag.

ANDREA NICOLAS, REPORTER: Hang also celebrates Chinese New Year at home.

HANG: We go to temples and prayer for gods and for our families.

ANDREA NICOLAS, REPORTER: New Year will finish in a week and a half with the Lantern Festival, when people will hang decorated lanterns in temples and carry them in parades under the light of the full moon to light their way to a happy future.

Comments (3)

Add your comment