A Happy New Year In China

Do you know what day it is today (January 23rd) ?? It's Lunar New Year in China !!
It's for 1st of January in the Lunar calendar.
From 23rd to 25th, they celebrate it by shooting fireworks, beating drums, exploding firecrackers and so on.
They also have so many performances on streets wearing Chinese dress, dancing with Dragon shaped something.
Especially the fireworks are held on a much larger scales than those of Japan.
 


People go back to their houses and spend these days with their families.
That's the same as Japanese New Year days.
But, look at these pictures !! These are the situation people are waiting for buying train tickets.
And inside the train, people are sitting on the aisle.
Japanese rush on the platforms is also crazy, but this is more.
 

And even in Japan, at Yokohama Chinese town, people celebrate it, too.
Many events are held there as if there was real China !!
 
They will have special dishes on these days.
As we Japanese have Osechi Ryori, they have their own Osechi Ryori.
It depends on their home and where they live.
One of the important things is, rice cake, there are some kinds, triangle, stick type and etc...
But the common meanings they have are to be rich and to have good luck in the year.
 

These celebrations last at least for 3 days.
When you have a chance, why don't you go to China and experience their most important day ?

By: Tomoyuki (Asakusa)