Figure 1.-- Magic lanterns began to be used in the 17th century, essentally and early form of slide projector. The source of illumination varied over time. Magic lattens became popular in the 19th centry with the invention of photography. This made the slides inexpensive to produce and very realistic. Color photography was not yet widely developed, but the black and white images were often colorized. Magic latterns were for presentations to an audience. This could be for both entertainment and education. They were used by doctors, explorers, magicians, missionaries, professors, and many others. There were companies that produced magic lattern slides similar to the stereo card companies. This slide shows Chinese children dressed up in their best clothes for a New Years celebration about 1910.

The Chinese of course are especially noted for celebrating New Years. Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is sometimes called the Lunar New Year, especially by people outside China. It comes at a different time than the European celebration. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month (Chinese: 春节; pinyin: Chūn jié), in the Chinese calendar and ends on January 15. This day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve literally means "Year-pass Eve". On each year, there is an animal symbol for the year. There are 12 such animals. The year 2009 is the year of ox and there is a 12 year sycle for these animal designations. Chinese New Year is on January 25-February 9. Parades and fire crackers are staples of the Chinese New Year celebration. Lion and dragon costumes are particularly popular. Often children dress up in the costumes that relate to the animal that symbolizes the particular year. Many Chinese celebrate their birtdays on New Years rather than their birthdate. Chinese New Year is not only celebrated in China, but in Chinese communitirs around the world. The San Francisco Chinnese New Year parade is especially important in America a heritage of the Chinese who came to America diring the 1848 Gold Rush.

Importance

The Chinese of course are especially noted for celebrating New Years. Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.

Terminology

It is sometimes called the Lunar New Year, especially by people outside China. Chinese New Year's Eve literally means "Year-pass Eve"

Dates

It comes at a different time than the European celebration. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month (Chinese: 春节; pinyin: Chūn jié), in the Chinese calendar and ends on January 15. This day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year falls on January 25-February 9. The day varies from year to year, dependin on lunar cycles.

Animal Symbols

On each year, there is an animal symbol for the year. There are 12 such animals. The year 2009 is the year of ox and there is a 12 year cycle for these animal designations.

Celebrations

Parades and fire crackers are staples of the Chinese New Year celebration. Many Chinese celebrate their birtdays on New Years rather than on their actual birthdates.

Family

Actually Chinese New Year is all about family getting together. People would travel thousands of miles just to go home and spend this festival with their family. There will be fireworks and most delicious food serving. So if you decide to visit your dear lady in China, this might be a perfect time to meet her family and know Chinese culture. You would fully understand why Chinese women are so family-oriented.

Clothing

Lion and dragon costumes are particularly popular. Often children dress up in the costumes that relate to the animal that symbolizes the particular year.

Foreign Chinese Communities

Chinese New Year is not only celebrated in China, but in Chinese communitirs around the world. Celebrated in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese, Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbours, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction. These include Aboriginal Taiwanese people, Koreans, Mongolians, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Vietnamese, and formerly the Japanese before 1873. In Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and other countries with significant Chinese populations, Chinese New Year is also celebrated, largely by overseas Chinese, and has, to varying degrees, become part of the traditional culture of these countries. In Canada, although Chinese New Year is not an official holiday, many ethnic Chinese hold large celebrations and Canada Post issues New Year's themed stamps in domestic and international rates. For gifts on Chinese New Year, children usually get Red Pockets. Relatives and neighbors will visit each other sending fruits, cakes, and most importantly best wishes. The San Francisco Chinnese New Year parade is especially important in America a heritage of the Chinese who came to America diring the 1848 Gold Rush.

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Created: 11:05 PM 1/12/2009
Last updated: 9:25 AM 5/10/2016