Lunar New Year in China

February 9, 2013 — celebrations, fireworks, lunar new year, predictions, Year of the Snake

The official political message this year of the Communist leaders of China is curb waste and conserve air quality this lunar new year. Banquets and fireworks are under fire for waste and pollution.  The ancestors are featured heavily in celebrations of this holiday in China.  The festival begins on the new moon, this year 10 Feb, 2013, and lasts for 15 days. Many Chinese people travel great distances to be at home for this time of year. Fireworks are central to the family party.  I am a huge fan of pyrotechnics.  I am not attracted to witness displays in China because frequent fires and accidents are the result of unregulated manufacture and distribution.

The practice of making noise to scare away evil spirits is ancient.  China produces 90% of the fireworks in the world after inventing them.  The original firecrackers were chunks of wet bamboo thrown into a fire.  The invention of gunpowder in China around 600-900 AD changed everything. The public and private parties to welcome the Year of the Snake will last for a month.  If you want to party with the Snake, clean your house, wrap even numbered  dollar amounts in red paper and give them to your family, and do not wash your hair or sweep your house on the first day.  You may be able  follow up with Lion dancers in your community, and if you are lucky, some fireworks to scare away the evil forces in your life.  Good to go.