LONDON, January 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Celebrations across London mark the Chinese
New Year
Saturday 28th January marks the first day of the 2017
Chinese lunar calendar and the Year of the Red Fire Rooster. The
biggest Chinese New Year celebrations
outside Asia, Chinese New Year celebrations in London will kick off on Friday 27th
January for New Year's eve and
culminate on Sunday, 29th January in Trafalgar Square
and around London.
Every year, London lights up in
celebration of Chinese culture and tradition. Hundreds of thousands
of people descend on the West End to wish each other "Xin Nian Kuai Le" (Happy New Year in Mandarin)
or "San Nin Faai Lok" (in Cantonese). This year, to ring in the
Year the Rooster, events will include parades, activities and
shows, fireworks, lanterns and lions.
Mr. Xiang Xiaowei, the
Minister Counsellor of Cultural Affairs of the Chinese
Embassy, said: "Chinese
New Year is the ideal time to share happiness and joy,
reinforce friendship and send best wishes and blessing to friends
for the coming year. This year, the Rooster is an excellent sign
for the UK's and China's strong
economic and cultural relationship. The biggest opportunity so far
is the "One belt One Road" initiative, which will nurture this
relationship, linking the UK to countries in the Asia Pacific. The UK is one of the fastest
growing tourist destinations for China and UK retailers will see an influx of
Chinese visitors during this year's festive period. Equally, I am
touched to see how the Chinese community treasure the tradition and
will share these moments with communities across the UK. At a time
when the world is facing myriads of uncertainty, the Chinese New Year provides an opportunity for us
to share our commitment to mutual growth and celebrating
together."
Though the festivities are now a staple of London's yearly festivities, outside of
China, the origins of the festival
are lesser known. The story typically begins with a mythical
lion-like monster that preyed on villagers, called Nian (年), which
is also the Chinese word for "year." The Nian was defeated by
warding him off with drums and firecrackers, and by hanging red
paper cutouts and scrolls on doors, a colour that scared the
monster.
Traditional celebrations are rooted in the coming of spring, and
the preparations for a new growing season. Customs include:
- Sharing red envelopes with money inside among children and
unmarried adults, to bring good luck and ward off evil
spirits;
- Decorating the house with mandarin oranges and lotus flowers,
symbolising happiness and rebirth;
- Food is an essential part of the festival, traditionally
including sweet, sticky rice cakes and savory dumplings - which are
round and symbolize never-ending wealth
What's in store for Roosters in 2017
Beginning on January 28, 2017 and
ending on February 15, 2018,
Chinese New Year in 2017 marks the beginning of the Year of the Red
Fire Rooster. Each year is related to an animal sign according to a
12-year cycle and the Rooster is tenth in the Chinese zodiac. Years
of the Rooster include 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005,
2017, and 2029.
According to Chinese astrology, rooster years are filled with
integrity and efficiency. Hard work is the key to achieving success
this year. Predictions suggest that this year can be beneficial to
your career and financial investments, but you will need to time
your business ventures well if you want to take advantage of the
most profitable periods.