Chinese New Year 4713 starts on February 8 of this year. Unlike the Western holiday, which starts the night before and ends the next day, the traditional celebration of Chinese New Year goes for 15 days, ending with the annual Lantern Festival.
The holiday also marks the world's largest period of mass migration, as millions of people travel to be with their families for the holiday.
Restrictions on setting off fireworks coupled with an economic slowdown appeared to tame the celebrations across China.
Celebrations were missing in Taiwan, still dazed one day after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck. The streets in Tainan, near the earthquake's epicenter, remained empty as midnight approached.
Search and rescue workers prayed late Sunday at Wu-Long-Kuong Temple in Tainan, lighting incense and bowing in front of several Daoist and Buddhist deities.
But fireworks and parades welcomed the new year in cities from Sydney to Lisbon.
voanews.com
7/2/16
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Chinese are flocking to temples and fairs to pray for good health and fortune on the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday...
ReplyDeleteIn Beijing, many are visiting traditional fairs held in parks, as well as Buddhist and Taoist temples offering singing and dance performances and open-air markets selling handicrafts.
Monday marks the first day of the Year of the Monkey — the ninth animal on the Chinese zodiac calendar.
The weeklong holiday, known as the Spring Festival in China, is focused on family reunion and is a time when students and migrant workers return to their hometowns.
It is the country’s most important holiday, equivalent to Christmas for many in the West.
AP