Chinese New Year

This year, Chinese New Year falls on Friday 16th February and, according to the Chinese 12-year animal zodiac cycle, this is the beginning of the year of the Dog – but unfortunately Dog years are believed to be the most unlucky!

Ranking as the eleventh animal in Chinese zodiac, Dog is the symbol of loyalty and honesty. People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. They are honest, friendly, faithful, loyal, smart, straightforward, venerable and have a strong sense of responsibility.

Chinese New Year is called “Spring Festival” in modern Mainland China and is China’s most important festival, celebrated at the turn of the traditional solar calendar. It marks the end of the coldest part of Winter, when the Chinese could look forward to the beginning of Spring. It is a festival held for over a quarter of the world’d population across China, Indonesia, Phillipines, Vietnam, South Korea, Mayalsia, Singapore and beyond.

It’s a time when people buy and wear new clothes, give gifts, and clean their houses.  Billions of red envelopes are exchanged on the day, giving cash to younger members of the families or employees.

The Chinese New Year sees the world’s biggest annual fireworks usage. Fireworks are used to scare evil spirits as most mainland Chinese believe that the flash and bang of firecrackers scare away demons and evil ghosts!

Alas though, it’s not a great time for ‘old’ singles. Parents think women are marriageable up to 30 and men up to 32, and those who don’t get married before these ages are thought to be the dregs of society! To solve this problem a solution has appeared — renting a boyfriend or girlfriend for the New Year!