China Celebrates the New Year – 13-19 February
February 4, 2010
Sometimes referred to as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China. It is also celebrated internationally in areas with large Chinese communities.
Although filled with rejoicing today, the origins of the Chinese New Year celebrations were born out of fear and myth. Legend spoke of a wild beast, the Nian (which also is the word for “year”) that appeared at the end of each year, attacking and killing villagers. He was finally driven into the woods and kept at bay by firecrackers, red lanterns and red spring scrolls hung on windows and doors, as the color red was despised by the beast. To this day these traditions to ward off the Nian continue.
This year’s festivities begin on 13 February and run for fifteen days with the 14th being the first day of the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Tiger.
During these celebrations people decorate the streets and houses with poems on red paper, wear red clothes and give children “lucky money” in red envelopes as red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits such as the Nian. Today, the fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom.
Move One offices in China will be closed from Feb 13 to Feb 19 but operating on both Saturday 20 and Sunday 21. Customs closure will be Feb 12 to Feb 19. We advise air and sea shipments arriving after Feb 8 may be faced with clearance delays, demurrage and other storage charges. As usual, Move One China, will do our best to facilitate shipment clearances and minimize any associated costs.
Over this period, please use the following emergency contacts.
For relocations contact: Alexandra Wassenhoven
email: alexandra.wassenhoven@moveonerelo.com
mobile: 0086-13764421706
For moving contact: Nina Ma
email: nina.ma@moveonerelo.com
mobile: 0086-13146797963
For all other business contact: Xuan Zhang
email: xuan.zhang@moveonerelo.com
mobile: 0086-13584522822
Related posts:
