Experience Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

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Chinese New Year celebrations in Hong Kong are the root of Chinese New Year festivities in Chinatowns throughout the world. Since most of the immigrants to western countries made their way through Hong Kong those Chinese ex-patriots took the traditions and customs of the Chinese New Year with them to Sydney, San Francisco, Vancouver, New York and other cities where celebrating the traditional Chinese New Year has become popular. However, the grandest Chinese New Year celebration of all is held in Hong Kong with the International Chinese New Year Parade the ultimate celebratory event. Chinese culture is steeped in beliefs about the role of luck in the lives of people. The lunar calendar that plays such an important role in the Far East is dominated by the 12 animal signs of the Chinese horoscope and the outlook for the coming year is dictated by the relationship of an individual’s animal sign with that associated with the coming year. Believers are influenced in their decision making about everything from job prospects to which colors to paint their homes based on the underlying influence of the upcoming year’s animal sign. The celebration of the Chinese New Year draws parallels with Christmas in the west with traditional gifts, feasts and festivals playing a major role in those celebrations. Chinese New Year falls each year between late January and the end of February dependent upon the Lunar calendar. Hong Kong has long been a hotbed of activity for events celebrating the turn of the Chinese calendar. The traditional 15 day celebratory period kicks of The New Year in Hong Kong with the New Year Parade and its colorful floats, dragon dancers and drummers. The next day of celebration includes a massive fireworks show over Victoria Harbour. The third day finds most Chinese remaining in their homes as the “Day of Squabbles” causes a cultural observance of the avoidance of social contact so as to limit any potential altercation. Feasting is the rule on the 7thday, known as “Everybody’s Birthday” with special foods prepared according to customs to insure the performance of specific achievements in the coming year. The 15 days culminate in the Yuen Siu Lantern Festival where brightly illuminated lamps are displayed throughout the city. Visiting Wong Tai Sin Temple to grab a tube of fortune sticks in order to identify one’s outlook for the coming year is also popular among visitors to Hong Kong during the New Year festivities. Whether you are a Snake, a Rabbit or perhaps a Tiger you may find that the missing piece of your trip of a lifetime to visit Hong Kong is timing it to coincide with the Chinese New Year. Add the possibility of participating in this ages old cultural happening to your list and do the research to understand which year aligns best with your animal sign.

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