en.infoglobe.cz » China: By Journalists Eyes XXIX: Chinese New Year

China: By Journalists Eyes XXIX: Chinese New Year

Published: 19.1.2013
We have all this Christmas martyrdom behind us, more or less. New Year’s eve after-effects are the past now and everyday life came back again. Far in the east of our planet the holiday season is getting to its peak.

Last few years Chines “celebrate” Western Christmas holidays so they can justify their shopping spree and overeating, together with us. However, their Big night sticks to traditional lunar calendar and every year it falls on some day at the turn of January and February

This year it will begin at 11pm on Feburary 9. Celebrations will be on the following day and they last a loooong time. The year of the Dragon that stood behind all events of 2012 will give the rule to his successor, the Snake.

In China preparations for the New Year being more then a month earlier. Families who abide by traditions are quite busy. First of all, they need to clean their entire household, sweep and wash every corner really clean. Then all kinds of these little gods who protect every household come. A little god that protects an entire household follows – the Fireplace God

Čína - ilustrační foto

He watches his family entire year and he certainly would have many things to say up there – so that it is good to bribe him little bit – Chinese housewives cook sweet delicacies around which aromatic candles are lit and some little god can enjoy these delicacies through the smoke.

Perhaps the most praiseworthy pre-New Year’s task is a cleanup among debtors. It is a long tradition and once it was necessary to keep clean bills at the end of the year so respect among Chines would preserve. Those who didn’t manage to do that or didn’t want to do that were discredited and humiliated. Such debtor had to solve their fate by a run or by a change of their name.

How is the situation with debts among Chinese today is not clear. The truth is that many companies abide by the tradition to keep clean bill at the end of the lunar year. Praise them for that.

Čína - ilustrační foto

A whole family gathers at the evening before the New Year, a whole male part has to be represented at least. Tables bend, everywhere are red decorations, people wish each other luck and plenty in the following year. They remember deceased and they have prepared sweet delicacies for them also. Chines families have special home altars for this purpose to serve their ancestors some sweet delicacies from a table.

When so anticipated day comes, doors open and the New Year is official let into the house. People give each other small presents, kids get even money in envelopes.  And almost a two weeks of holidays and celebrations begin.

Everyone visits everyone and because of that traffic usually collapses. Even “holiday” drivers move from distant provinces. It is a hard job because you must visit everyone, or else they might feel offended!

Čína - ilustrační foto

Celebrations in the Middle Kingdom are not only fireworks. Entire cities, town, villages celebrate with fireworks on every inch of squares, courtyards, or playgrounds. A firework show is great and endless. If you want to see whole country shinning and quaking, you have still chance.

 

Text/photo: Andrea Fantová

 



Discussion at the article (0)


Related Articles

China: By Journalist’s Eyes – Freedom of Speech in China, Internet II
Published: 23.2.2013
Profane language and pornography shouldn’t be on the Internet. We would certainly agree with that if only this wasn’t just a cover for endless clutch of the Chinese Internet censorship. Under the cover of a protection of national cultural heritage, and public interest and prosperity the Chinese government tries to hide its rough cleansing.

China: Long Journey II - Icy Summer Palace
Published: 16.3.2013
If we set off to China it is almost imposible to miss out its capital - Beijing. Beijing is full of traces of history but Beijing also lives in the present and future in every of its wide avenues and narrow streets. Beijing is full of fabulous food, noisy traffic... And so on and on. Where would you look for peaceful moments in busy metropolis?

China: By Journalists Eyes - Freedom of Speech in China and the Internet I
Published: 9.2.2013
We all got used to all these superlatives surrounding China. I wouldn’t exaggerate if I said that she achieved some primacy every week.

China: By Journalists Eyes - Chinese Names
Published: 26.1.2013
We had many formal meetings during our journey in China with government officials or top managements of some companies that tried to make themselves more visible through us, European journalists. In a hurry after these precisely scheduled meetings I always gathered prepared business cards and carefully placed them to my notes.

China: By the Eyes of the Journalist XXVIII: A Gift for Chines? Never Scissors Let Alone the Flower!
Published: 24.11.2012
To move on the other side of Euroasia is nothing easy for those who don’t know how. Especially when they are going to have a personal contact with a Chinese family, business partners, or politicians and officials. For such a stay it is good to make some little preparations, otherwise you will experience more than one faux pas.

China: Wall Ten Thousand Miles Long
Published: 21.1.2013
The Great Wall of China. The Long Wall. The Endless Wall. There are many names for the same wall, the wall that everybody knows wherever he/she lives. If you are Chinese, it is THE wall. You are proud of it because it is a national symbol. As Mao Zedong once said: “Who never got on the Great Wall of China is no man.” Or Chinese.

China: By Journalists Eye XV: Thangka Art
Published: 25.8.2012
Qinghai Province fascinates me at every step, or rather at every kilometre. A mixture of Buddhism and Muslim world humbly exist together is incredibly interesting phenomenon, especially for journalists from far, accelerated, often impersonal and intolerant Europe. This time we are heading into the valley that lies in Rebkong area, the centre of Tibetan art in the province.

China: By Journalists Eye XIV: Back to 19th century
Published: 18.8.2012
The third day we devoured spell of western China and the knowledge that we have somewhere "behind" Tibet is our "ugly," said attractive. There, under the auspices of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, certainly can´t go, but Tibetan culture we meet at every step.

China: By Journalists Eye XXVI: Gan Bei Or What to drink in China 1
Published: 10.11.2012
The first ever Chinese word that I learned, and it still did not forget, is the "pi-jo". If you seem familiar, you are right - though vastly different languages, for favourite golden-coloured brew has phonetically very similar name as Czech and many other Slavic languages. Drinking beer is a hobby that is definitely common with the Chinese.

China: By Journalists Eyes XIII. - At school
Published: 11.8.2012
Our bus finally stops at the end of a long, dirt track, in which about an hour ago has changed as if by magic a modern six-lane highway. My worries we will finish up on the roof, fortunately not materialized, we drove past woods and gouged out before us, football pitch right and green has left. Everything was dominated by ground shabby, battered gray building - school.

China: By Journalists Eye I. - Fight On Tiananmen Square
Published: 12.5.2012
Finally Beijing. Our journalistic team has battled a series of security checks and we find ourselves in an endless airport lounge. The feeling that the local crowd have to absorb us was not correct. Then we see a smiling Chinese lady and in minutes everyone sit in a luxury air-conditioned bus.

China - By Journalists Eye XXII: Shanghai - Queen Or A Whore?
Published: 13.10.2012
We are in Shanghai, in a metropolis shrouded by hundreds of "firsts" that is, in the largest Chinese city. One "the best" there certainly lacks – the historic one. Shanghai, unlike many other Chinese cities has relatively short history, after the Middle Ages, you won´t find any foot mark.

China and cheap flights ...
Published: 13.2.2012
China - land of unlimited possibilities, a country which, unlike the developed world is growing and whose economic growth in today's world seems like a miracle. Country with many cultural and historical monuments, a country, that sends a man into space.

China: By Journalists Eyes IX: Among Chinese Students Of Czech Or "Around Hradec"
Published: 14.7.2012
China's hard work and discipline accompanied us at every step and a visit of Beijing Foreign Studies University just confirmed it. Here we had a chance to appreciate even more characteristic of Chinese - adaptability.

China: By Journalists Eye XVIII:  In A Carpet Factory Or Life Of Happy Worker
Published: 15.9.2012
We are still in the far northwest of China, in the region, which is interwoven with Tibetan culture and history. After dense doses our Beijing hosts are served us bait to persuade Europeans ignorant about the interest of the central government in the development of local underdeveloped economy, improving people's living standards while maintaining support all the attributes of the original culture

China: By Journalists Eyes V: China: Life In The Streets Of Beijing
Published: 16.6.2012
From the bus window, we could see Beijing crisscross, authentic atmosphere of the streets and alleys and hundreds of thousands of people in them, but we sucked up in the role of hikers and then of course after "bedtime" is ended with an official dinner with selected potent and our tired guide disappeared behind hotel room door.

China: By Journalists Eye XXVI: Gan Bei Or What to drink in China 2
Published: 17.11.2012
In China, people drink really everything you can think of. Everyday drink is inherent tea, whether green or black, fermented or semi-fermented. Water and hundreds of species of non-alcoholic beverages are part of food as well as beer or very popular traditional rice wine. On the tables of local "higher" classes but there are also wine from grapes, until recently marginalized drink.

China: Land Of Contrasts
Published: 18.2.2012
Huge China is a country of contrasts. It consists of several climatic zones, there you can find a noisy city full of glass skyscrapers and smog, but also the traditional mountain village with mud houses and rice plantations.

China: By Journalists Eye II. - Great Wall Of China
Published: 19.5.2012
Being in China and not visit the Great Wall is equal to savagery. The official program that the Chinese government has prepared us is this trip only alternative and we have to earn deserve it. From early morning we sit in the Red Hall headquarters of the Communist Party of the People's Republic of China and pretend to listen to propaganda papers enthusiastic speakers.

China: By Journalists Eyes IV. - How To Ride In Beijing
Published: 2.6.2012
We "elect" could see the Chinese megalopolis through largely a luxury air-conditioned bus with a smiling dude behind the wheel. It is also part of local standard, certainly not just for a small group of natives and of course for wealthy tourists.

China - By Journalists Eye XXIII: Pearl Of Orient
Published: 20.10.2012
When I looked at the city in evening from promenade of colonial Bund, Oriental Pearl enchanted me with its graceful shapes, and I watched long how at it clothed in new and new colours in regular intervals. I do not know, which one suits her most...

China: By Journalists Eyes X: Qing Hai Province - The First Night In Xi Ning
Published: 21.7.2012
After four days in Beijing we packed suitcases and with our guide got on the plane. Before us is a big unknown - we are moving into one of the poorest provinces of China to west to the Tibetan border. It won´t be surprise just for us, but also our girls will visit Beijing - Ai Qing the first time in their life.

China: By Journalists Eye XIX: Carpet For Monks
Published: 22.9.2012
Classical Chinese carpets have described Marco Polo in his travelogues, but till today in the world are still not too much to seen and know little about them. I look forward to our visit carpet factories in the province of Qinghai, Xining on the outskirts of the city, to widen my horizons. The lives of local workers I try to plug deeply into the subconscious and try to see the beauty around.

China: By Journalists Eyes VI: Around The Chinese-Covered Table
Published: 23.6.2012
The first dining experience in China didn’t impress me too much. Five stars beautiful hotel, a lot of fuss on arrival our journalistic delegation - a bow and waving fans welcomed us beauties in traditional dress, from the table.

China: Si-an
Published: 25.2.2012
Ancient city of Xian, or Si-an is about 3000 years old. It is one of the most important places throughout Chinese history, since it is here that housed 11 Chinese imperial dynasties. At the time when Beijing was a mere village, golden Si - an shone by bright colours of temples, wide boulevards and architectural excesses.

China: By Journalists Eye XXIV - How to get the picture in Shanghai  
Published: 27.10.2012
The second day in Shanghai. I slept great, the apartment from Chinese Ministry in one of the most modern hotels in Pchu - tung district, hardly compares to the most luxury holiday model.

China: By Journalists Eye III. - Great Boxers
Published: 26.5.2012
World media today proclaims that the Chinese state television CCTV triumphantly finished its job and officially opened a new headquarters in Beijing. The futuristic-looking building that should symbolizes the emergence of China on the world stage, journalists dubbed it - thanks to the remarkable shape for her grace in the world called the Chinese "Great boxers."

China: By Journalist Eye XX: Colour Symbolism
Published: 29.9.2012
Exploring the China is join with infinite variety of impressions, perceptions, experiences and surprises for Europeans often shrouded under a veil of mystery, many time but just ignorance. I did get out of this country dominating feeling - China is incredibly colourful. Colourful from drab uniform gray to a beautiful rainbow combination.

China: By Journalists Eye XXV. - Expo And Better Life
Published: 3.11.2012
Till the start of the World's Expo remains less than 11 months. Here in Shanghai the word Expo is inflected to suffer. Sky blue mascot of Hainan - pao exhibition more than a year before the outbreak this exhibition´s madhouse smiles from windows, posters, winks from light boards, and I decided to bring one teddy home.

China: By Journalists Eyes VII: The jump to the Chinese market 1.
Published: 30.6.2012
Beijing is for us concentration of paradoxes. Endless skyscrapers, luxury living residences, shops of all tech brands on one side and then thousands of artifacts, ancient Chinese culture. We are interested in both of it, but the traditional one is but much more interesting.

China: By Journalists Eyes XII: To See The Yellow River
Published: 4.8.2012
Our bus goes on the perfectly smooth highway, where we ones a time meet some man in a hat, with a scarf over his face and a broom in his hand - he is alone, far from him you can´t see anything of civilization, the high mountains on both sides, and he sweeps the shoulder.

China: Half of a Kid in Shanghai
Published: 5.1.2013
Walks and rides in Shanghai are an infinite fount of learning unknown and different no matter where it is. I manage to sit down and observe rush around me for half an hour on one very busy avenue.

China - Yangshuo And It's Magic Surroundings
Published: 5.9.2010
If you would like to have a stop in a locality, where the time is passing in another rate of speed, where everyday hunt for activity and stress do not have any chance, so, you arrived to the right spot. It is Yangshuo, small Chinese town, situated in nature karst along Li and Yulong rivers.

China: By Journalist Eye XXI: City The Best
Published: 6.10.2012
To leave the province of Qinghai and thus few days of life in the past, sometimes the century before, it was the more sensitive nature really hard. Local on many places the virgin nature, proud mountain ranges, deep green valleys, vast dry plains, miniature boxes, herds of yaks and colourful mix of nationalities, often pristine civilizations us captivated, amazed, left imprint on the hearts.

China: By Journalists Eyes VIII: The Jump To The Chinese Market 2.
Published: 7.7.2012
Visit of Beijing food market and edibles of all kinds, shapes, smells, often of unknown origin and a long life even more dangerously we were really stunned for a moment and quietly wandering Chinese traders staring at the blonde, which move at a rate of marathon runners. Phew. We are off and miraculously in front of us pleasantly familiar signs shucks "Starbucks Coffee".

Place

Czech republic

Partners:

We were awarded the certificate even thanks to you!

Dôveryhodná firma 2017

 

Guide:

Important Information:

Information and warnings on travelling abroad is to be found HERE.

Mobile application:

aplikácia Infoglobe

stiahnuť zadarmo pre Androidstiahnuť zadarmo pre iPhone

 

 

Today:friday 29. 3. 2024
Holiday:Taťána
Today:
friday 29.3.
6 °C
Tomorrow:
saturday 30.3.
11 °C

TIP: INFOGLOBE app is available for your device, download HERE.

X

TIP: INFOGLOBE app is available for your device, download HERE.

X