One of my dear friends was sharing the traditions of the Chinese New Year and it captivated my interest. Here are the three most interesting facts about it:
The Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4712 begins on Jan. 31, 2014.Chinese months are calculated by the lunar calendar, every month begins on the darkest day. New Year festivities start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people sometimes take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year.
1) Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal’s year would have some of that animal’s personality.
2) At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children “lucky money” in red envelopes. Red is the color which symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that ornate the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom.
3) In China, the New Year is a time of family reunion. Family members gather for visits and shared meals; most significantly a feast on New Year’s Eve. In the United States, many early Chinese immigrants arrived without their families, and found a sense of community through neighborhood associations instead. Today, many Chinese-American neighborhood associations host banquets and other New Year events.
Best Buy supports events which they believe are of importance to their employees, customers, and communities. The upcoming Lunar New Year is one of those important celebrations.
For Asians all around the world, including Asian-Americans, Lunar New Year not only celebrates the beginning of the year but also the ending of winter and the anticipated arrival of spring. It is one of the most important holidays celebrated in Asian countries.
This upcoming year, Lunar New Year, which is based on the phases of the moon, falls on February 19th, 2015 of our Gregorian calendar. Best Buy is helping celebrate the event with an Asian-inspired Giftcard and eGiftcard, available for purchase or gifting from BestBuy.com through February 22nd, 2015.
For an eGiftcard, scroll to the right of the following link under the “occassions” tab: http://www.bestbuy.com/egiftcard
To order a hard copy of this gift card please visit: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/promo/lunar-new-year-gift-cards
I will surprise my friend and purchase a card for her, as well as host a meal to celebrate and embrace this wonderful tradition! Do you celebrate the Lunar New Year? Can’t wait to hear from you!
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