A Lovely Day to Celebrate
The cold, crisp winter temperatures lend themselves to the excitement already in the air. Chinese people scurry to buy special treats, clean house, buy new clothes, buy tickets to travel home, and greet their neighbors with a sense of exuberance comparable to what you might expect to see at Christmastime in America. Chinese are preparing for their biggest holiday of the year, Chinese New Year. 
Known as “Spring Festival” in China, the New Year is determined by the lunar calendar, and almost always falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. This year, it just happens that Chinese New Year’s Day falls on a holiday familiar to the rest of the world, Valentine’s Day. February 14, 2010, ushers in the Year of the Tiger. 
Traditions
Spring Festival is no quiet holiday, and there are definitely no “silent nights” involved. Fireworks illuminate the night skies. Not even a good pair of earplugs can drown out the explosive sounds emanating from the constant popping of firecrackers day and night throughout the holidays.
In the weeks prior to the holiday, Chinese people battle the winter cold and stand in line for hours at train and bus ticket counters, hoping to find affordable tickets to their hometowns before they are all sold. Getting home to share a special meal with family on Chinese New Year is the goal of almost every Chinese person. Different parts of China have different traditions, but foods that are eaten on Chinese New Year’s Eve may include chicken; long, uncut noodles; and dumplings called jiaozi.
The traditional holidays last for 15 days, with the 15th day being the Lantern Festival. Shops are often closed for the first three days of the holiday. Schools are often closed for a month at this time of year. 
Traditions during the holiday include visiting friends or family and taking them gifts such as fruit or cookies. Adults give children red envelopes containing money. It is important to clean the house prior to the festival, but sweeping and dusting can never be done on the first day of the festival, as it is associated with sweeping away one’s good fortune in the coming year.
The numerous traditions associated with the festival all have a special significance or superstition attached to them. Although modern Chinese will be quick to tell you that they do not believe all these superstitions to be truth, they nonetheless carry on the traditions as part of their Chinese culture; it also keeps their childhood memories alive as they pass them down to younger generations.
For some Chinese, appeasing the “kitchen god,” praying in a temple, and scaring away evil spirits by setting off firecrackers are very important rituals. For these people, the holidays are a time of fear, stress and bondage to evil spirits.
A Time for Sharing HIStory
Many Chinese people work far from home, with only one opportunity to see their extended family members during the year, on Chinese New Year. For Chinese people who have become siblings during the previous year, Chinese New Year affords them their first opportunity to return to their hometowns, talk to their families about their new life, and share with childhood friends. For new siblings, this can be both joyful and stressful. Their acceptance of HIS eternal plan is not always met with enthusiasm or acceptance.
Many young adults in China have grueling work hours with no free time; they work 16 hours a day, seven days a week; they live at the factories where they work. Chinese New Year is one of the few times during the year that they are able to mingle with people outside their workplace. Chinese New Year is an opportune time for many of them to freely interact with those who can share HIStory with them.
Loving the Chinese
Chinese people living in countries throughout the world also do their best to celebrate this special day. Cities with Chinatowns may have parades and special celebrations. However, for Chinese who are integrated into mainstream western society, this day may be just another workday, a lonely day that fills their hearts with longing for their homeland and loved ones.
This year, as you celebrate Valentine’s Day, let it remind you of HIS love for those in the Chinese world who are celebrating their New Year. Pray for your brothers and sisters in HIM in China and around the world. Pray for open hearts for those Chinese people who are hearing about HIM for the first time during these holidays. Ask Father to pour out His great love on all Chinese people.
Known as “Spring Festival” in China, the New Year is determined by the lunar calendar, and almost always falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. This year, it just happens that Chinese New Year’s Day falls on a holiday familiar to the rest of the world, Valentine’s Day. February 14, 2010, ushers in the Year of the Tiger. TraditionsSpring Festival is no quiet holiday, and there are definitely no “silent nights” involved. Fireworks illuminate the night skies. Not even a good pair of earplugs can drown out the explosive sounds emanating from the constant popping of firecrackers day and night throughout the holidays.
In the weeks prior to the holiday, Chinese people battle the winter cold and stand in line for hours at train and bus ticket counters, hoping to find affordable tickets to their hometowns before they are all sold. Getting home to share a special meal with family on Chinese New Year is the goal of almost every Chinese person. Different parts of China have different traditions, but foods that are eaten on Chinese New Year’s Eve may include chicken; long, uncut noodles; and dumplings called jiaozi.
The traditional holidays last for 15 days, with the 15th day being the Lantern Festival. Shops are often closed for the first three days of the holiday. Schools are often closed for a month at this time of year. Traditions during the holiday include visiting friends or family and taking them gifts such as fruit or cookies. Adults give children red envelopes containing money. It is important to clean the house prior to the festival, but sweeping and dusting can never be done on the first day of the festival, as it is associated with sweeping away one’s good fortune in the coming year.The numerous traditions associated with the festival all have a special significance or superstition attached to them. Although modern Chinese will be quick to tell you that they do not believe all these superstitions to be truth, they nonetheless carry on the traditions as part of their Chinese culture; it also keeps their childhood memories alive as they pass them down to younger generations.
For some Chinese, appeasing the “kitchen god,” praying in a temple, and scaring away evil spirits by setting off firecrackers are very important rituals. For these people, the holidays are a time of fear, stress and bondage to evil spirits.A Time for Sharing HIStory
Many Chinese people work far from home, with only one opportunity to see their extended family members during the year, on Chinese New Year. For Chinese people who have become siblings during the previous year, Chinese New Year affords them their first opportunity to return to their hometowns, talk to their families about their new life, and share with childhood friends. For new siblings, this can be both joyful and stressful. Their acceptance of HIS eternal plan is not always met with enthusiasm or acceptance.
Many young adults in China have grueling work hours with no free time; they work 16 hours a day, seven days a week; they live at the factories where they work. Chinese New Year is one of the few times during the year that they are able to mingle with people outside their workplace. Chinese New Year is an opportune time for many of them to freely interact with those who can share HIStory with them.Loving the Chinese
Chinese people living in countries throughout the world also do their best to celebrate this special day. Cities with Chinatowns may have parades and special celebrations. However, for Chinese who are integrated into mainstream western society, this day may be just another workday, a lonely day that fills their hearts with longing for their homeland and loved ones.
This year, as you celebrate Valentine’s Day, let it remind you of HIS love for those in the Chinese world who are celebrating their New Year. Pray for your brothers and sisters in HIM in China and around the world. Pray for open hearts for those Chinese people who are hearing about HIM for the first time during these holidays. Ask Father to pour out His great love on all Chinese people. 
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