When is Chinese New Year celebrated in 2002 - it's in February isn't it

Asks danmiller103

A. Chinese New Year 2002 began on 12 February, celebrations last for 15 days. The Chinese calendar is determined by a combination of solar and lunar movements (with each lunar cycle lasting 29.5 days) so New Year appears on a different day every year.

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Chinese New Year is traditionally known as the Spring Festival, as it symbolises the rebirth of the earth after a long winter.

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Q. What animal is 2002 the year of

A. The year 2002 is the Year of the Horse, and is year 4699 by the Chinese calendar.

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Q. How many animals are used on the Chinese calendar

A. The calendar uses a 12-year cycle and names each year after 12 animals in succession these are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar.

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Q. What are typical Chinese New Year traditions and customs

A. Preparations for the New Year festivities usually start in the month prior to the actual New Year - when all houses are cleaned and bills are paid - to get rid of any bad luck from the previous year.

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Typical traditions include the following:

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(a) Decorations: doors are decorated with scrolls of red paper that seek good luck and praise nature.

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(b) Flowers are very important: they signify rebirth and new growth and are also believed to be symbolic of wealth. A traditional arrangement would include plum blossom with bamboo. Other New Year favourites include the peony, water lily, narcissus, azalea and the pussy willow.

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(c) Oranges and tangerines: are traditionally brought as a gift when visiting friends and family during the festivities, as they are symbols of abundant happiness.

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(d) Incense is burned as a mark of respect for ancestors.

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(e) Firecrackers: setting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is a traditional way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the new.

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(f) Opening doors and windows: at midnight on New Year's Eve all doors and windows to a house have to be open to let out the old year.

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(g) New Year's eve is traditionally a family affair - with a huge family dinner served on the night before New Year's Day. This feast marks the importance of a family's ancestors and is known as the weilu (surrounding the stove) and symbolises family unity, and honours past generations.

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(h) Red Packets: are gifts given by married couples to children or single people during the New Year festivities. The gift is usually of money and is presented in a red envelope decorated with lucky symbols and characters. Symbolically these represent a wish for fortune and wealth in the coming year.

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(i) Fortune Sticks: a fortune is told by picking (shaking the case until one falls out) one of 78 numbered sticks from its bamboo case. The number you choose is cross-referenced with ancient Chinese texts and a fortune told.

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(j) Lion dance: Chinese New Year festivities are most commonly marked by the lion dance. Completed by two dancers one at the head and one at the tail of the lion, the dance brings good luck to any house it visits and is accompanied by loud music using drums and cymbals.

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The climax of the dance is the Choi Cheng, when a bundle of green vegetables (and a red packet containing money) hanging from the doorway of a visited house is picked by the lion and symbolically chewed up. The house is then blessed by the lion, which signifies abundance and good luck for the coming year.

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(k) The last day of the New Year festivities, the 15th day, is known as the Lantern Festival where houses are decorated with colourful lanterns.

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Q. Are any special foods eaten at New Year

A. It depends on what part of China a family is from. Traditionally, families from the south of China favour nian gao (sweet rice pudding) and zong zi (rice wrapped in reed leaves), while those from the north prefer man tou (steamed wheat bread) and meat dumplings.

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On New Year's Day a vegetarian dish, known as jai, is served and contains mostly root vegetables - but it can contain other ingredients for good luck in the coming year. For example: the lotus seed signifies male offspring; bamboo shoots signify good luck; black moss seaweed brings wealth; gingko nut represents silver ingots; and dried bean curd represents wealth and happiness. A combination of these ingredients is often included in the jai.

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Q. How would I find out about Chinese New Year activities in the UK

A. Most celebrations, in England at least, were set to take place on Sunday 17th February with street parties in many of the country's main cities. You can find out more about what's on online at: http://www.chinatown-online.org.uk/whatson.html

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By Karen Anderson