Fil-Chinese Community Readies to Celebrate the Chinese New Year

February 1, 2011 · Posted in Philippine Traditions

The local Fil-Chinese community in the Philippines is now preparing for the grand annual Chinese New Year celebration or what they called it “Kung Hei Fat Choi” which will start on February 3, 2011. It marks as the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit. This traditional event is celebrated for about fifteen days and it is a significant moment when the whole nation feels united as they can imagine each other’s enjoyment.

Chinese New Year has no definite date as it changes from year to year. It will depend upon the Chinese Lunar Calendar that corresponds to the new moon (black moon) in either late January or February. Although with its changing time of the festival, the Chinese people still very fervently follow all the customs that their elders have taught them.

The Chinese New Year Festival is considered as one of the most colorful festivals throughout the world. Chinese ancestors chose red as their primary color because of the two reasons. The first is because red is a lucky color and the second is supposed to frighten off the monster Nian who is thought to come on New Year’s Eve. Aside from red, they also used gold as secondary color because it represents wealth. Chinese families also decorate their homes with lanterns and put stickers on things in their respective homes.