Chinese New Year is one of the most important holidays on the Chinese Calendar. It starts January 22nd which is considered New Years Eve, and last until February 15th; this is when they celebrate the Lantern Festival. The celebration includes fireworks and dragon dancing, good-luck gift giving where adults give red envelopes with money to the young adults and children symbolizing wealth for the New Year, decorations, and lots of gathering and eating, many cities and towns also hold big parades.

It's a time for families to come together and prepare for the new year by cleaning their homes thoroughly, all this has to be done before New Years Day is over. This is said to clear their homes of bad luck and bring good luck for the New Year.

Chinese New Year Parade-- Vancouver

In the Chinese New Year each year is represented by an animal. The Dragon, Horse, Monkey, Rat, Boar, Rabbit, Dog, Rooster, Ox, Tiger, Snake, and Ram are the twelve animals that are used yearly to symbolize the New Year. 2012 is said to be a very special year for the Chinese people because it is the year of the dragon. The dragon is said to live in the skys which is thought of as heaven. The dragon is a symbol of power in astrology people who are born under the dragon are known as people who have good luck, who are extremely successful and ambitious, who live life with their own rules. They are the mightiest of any other astrological sign. source

With everything the dragon stands for it holds high hopes for what 2012 has in store for us. Everyone is said to go after the things they want most in life, make new changes, and make big noticeable movements in their life. Why not introduce boldness into your life this year?

...dragons are the luckiest and wealthiest people and everyone wants in on the dragon’s legendary rewards. source

In preparation for Chinese New Year Modern Sensibility we visited Pacific Mall from January 14th to January 22nd with a professional calligrapher giving out handmade Duilian. Large groups of people came out to receive their Chu Lian a special type of Dulian specifically used during the Chinese New Year for celebration and good luck. They include messages that bring hope and new beginning for the New Year and are hung on door or walls of home as decoration.

Photobucket