Happy Chinese New Year!

Today marks the first day of the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival. It will last 15 days. 2009 is the Year of the Ox. According to Chinese tradition, people who are born in the year of the Ox are said to be dependable, great organizers, loyal, patient, strong and responsible.

Prior to the start of the new year, Chinese families give their homes a thorough cleaning. It is believed that cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck. New red paint, new clothes and shoes also symbolize a fresh start.

According to legend, a mythical beast called "Nian" comes out on the first day of the new year to devour livestock, crops and people. To protect themselves, villagers would put food in front of their doors for Nian to eat. The legend states that once Nian was scared away by a child who was wearing red and they came to the conclusion that Nian was afraid of the color red. This is how red became a very significant color in the New Year's celebrations.

On this first day of the New Year, families will be visiting the oldest and most senior members of their extended families. Some families may invite a lion dance troupe as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Lunar New Year as well as to evict bad spirits from the premises.

Red packets are passed out during New Year's celebrations which always contain money from a few dollars to several hundred. The amount must be an even amount because odd amounts are given out at funerals. The number 4 is considered to be bad luck so the money in the envelopes will not add up to four. The number 8 is considered lucky, so $8 is a common amount to give.

Happy Chinese New Year!