Find out about the traditional and modern ways of greeting each other on the event of the Chinese New Year.
If you are going to be heading towards China during New Year's time you must expect a lot of people coming up to you and saying Guo Nian Hao. This means Happy New Year in their local language. Don't be surprised if it's early February and you are getting to hear people wishing each other happy New Year because the Chinese New Year falls on a totally different date.
The difference in date concerning New Years is all because Chinese follow lunar calendar. Their New Year depends on the moon cycle rather than the date like 1st of January. The Chinese people celebrate their New Year in a conventional way where they follow a lot of old customs and it's a time for joyful celebrations.
As soon as the lunar New Year begins in China, people who are unknown will wish you, as this is such a happy occasion for them. Wherever you may go even if it's a market, you will be wished a Guo Nian Hao by the staff. At this time of celebration the whole nation rises to the occasion.
There is however a set time limit during which the use of this greeting prevails. The time period is the first five days of the New Year. After that the use of this greeting is not considered to be part of the tradition. However Guo Nian Hao is not the only Chinese New Year greeting that surface during this time of the year.
The New Year for Chinese is a time when people hope and pray for abundance in future for everyone including themselves for the rest of the year. The Chinese people show their happiness by using terms like Hokkien Keong hee huat chye, Gonxi Facai for best wishes and success in life to others.
As New Year represent everything good the Chinese people also pray for a good amount of crop harvest in the coming year and they use certain terms to wish abundant crops to everyone in future.
There is another form of Chinese New Year greeting which is known as red envelop. According to this the children are given some money in envelop instead of saying any greeting. Red envelop is known to keep evil away from your life in future.
With the passing of time the Chinese people are using more and more of the new ways of wishing New Year in their own way without keeping up with the traditions. Sending New Year card was never a part of the ancient culture which is now generally sent to each other for best wishes.
likewise with the advent of the internet you have people exchanging e-cards in order to greet each other a Happy Chinese New Year. The government too has its own way of greeting the public with a massive fireworks display. - 30411
If you are going to be heading towards China during New Year's time you must expect a lot of people coming up to you and saying Guo Nian Hao. This means Happy New Year in their local language. Don't be surprised if it's early February and you are getting to hear people wishing each other happy New Year because the Chinese New Year falls on a totally different date.
The difference in date concerning New Years is all because Chinese follow lunar calendar. Their New Year depends on the moon cycle rather than the date like 1st of January. The Chinese people celebrate their New Year in a conventional way where they follow a lot of old customs and it's a time for joyful celebrations.
As soon as the lunar New Year begins in China, people who are unknown will wish you, as this is such a happy occasion for them. Wherever you may go even if it's a market, you will be wished a Guo Nian Hao by the staff. At this time of celebration the whole nation rises to the occasion.
There is however a set time limit during which the use of this greeting prevails. The time period is the first five days of the New Year. After that the use of this greeting is not considered to be part of the tradition. However Guo Nian Hao is not the only Chinese New Year greeting that surface during this time of the year.
The New Year for Chinese is a time when people hope and pray for abundance in future for everyone including themselves for the rest of the year. The Chinese people show their happiness by using terms like Hokkien Keong hee huat chye, Gonxi Facai for best wishes and success in life to others.
As New Year represent everything good the Chinese people also pray for a good amount of crop harvest in the coming year and they use certain terms to wish abundant crops to everyone in future.
There is another form of Chinese New Year greeting which is known as red envelop. According to this the children are given some money in envelop instead of saying any greeting. Red envelop is known to keep evil away from your life in future.
With the passing of time the Chinese people are using more and more of the new ways of wishing New Year in their own way without keeping up with the traditions. Sending New Year card was never a part of the ancient culture which is now generally sent to each other for best wishes.
likewise with the advent of the internet you have people exchanging e-cards in order to greet each other a Happy Chinese New Year. The government too has its own way of greeting the public with a massive fireworks display. - 30411
About the Author:
Chinese new year cooking is colorful, varied and delicious. For further info on new year greetings in Chinese follow the preceding hyperlinks.
