These days, the Chinese nation is celebrating its new year's eve known as Chuxi (Chu means "change" and xi means "Eve"). The Chinese New Year celebrations are marked by visits to kin, relatives and friends especially who are living outside China, a practice known as "new-year visits" (Chinese pinyin: bainian). On this very special day people wear new clothings to signify a New Year.
It is unclear when the beginning of the year was celebrated before the Qin Dynasty. Traditionally, the year was said to have begun with month one during the Xia Dynasty, month 12 during the Shang Dynasty, and month 11 during the Zhou Dynasty. However, records show that the Zhou Dynasty began its year with month one. Intercalary months, used to keep the lunar calendar synchronized with the sun, were added after month 12 during both the Shang Dynasty and the Zhou Dynasty. The first Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang changed the beginning of the year to month 10 in 221 BC, also changing the location of the intercalary month to after month nine. Whether the New Year was celebrated at the beginning of month 10, or month one, or both is unknown. In 104 BC, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty established month one as the beginning of the year, where it remains. This year the Chinese New Year has begun on Thursday, February 7, 2008. This brand new year in its traditional cycle, the Year of the Rat and the next year will most probably be celebrated as Ox year.
Chinese New Year's Eve in Meizhou, China, also called Lunar New Year, Spring Festival, was observed mainly by East Asian civilizations. These lunar celebrations start with dragon dances/lion dances, fireworks, family gathering, family meal, visiting friends and relatives, giving red envelopes and decorating with duilian.
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 is an important holiday in East Asia. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th. This day is called Lantern Festival, which concludes the celebration of the New Year.
Celebrated in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese and has had a strong influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbours, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction, these include 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, but it is not 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.
A special occasion of reunion dinner was held on New Year's Eve, where members of the family, near and far, get together. The venue will usually be in or near the home of the most senior member of the family. The New Year's Eve dinner is very sumptuous and traditionally includes chicken and fish. In some areas, fish is included, but not eaten completely (and the remainder is stored overnight), as the Chinese phrase "may there be surpluses every year".
Red packets for the immediate family are sometimes distributed during the reunion dinner. These packets often contain money in certain numbers that reflect good luck and honorability. Food is consumed to usher in wealth, happiness and good fortune. Several of the Chinese food names are homophones for words that also mean good things.
In the same fashion, an inauguration cum reunion dinner was arranged on 8th of February in the dynasty restaurant (here in Islamabad) and same vegetable - chicken stuff with yin (boiling, poaching and steaming) and yang (deep frying, roasting, stir frying) was served in a traditional manner. During proceedings and with large media gathering, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan H.E. Lu Zhaohui inaugurated the New Year Celebrations whereas Ambassador of Phillipines H.E. Jaime J. Yambao was also as the special guest on the occasion. During the event, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan H.E. Lu Zhaohui spoke loudly for Chinese feelings of affection for Pakistan and during a question answer session with pulse, he said…
Q: Sino-Pak FTA signed last year but the trade volume is in favour of China. What is your country doing to give equal opportunities to Pakistani traders?
H.E: Yes, it's an important factor but this is not the policy of Chinese government, we intend to give equal opportunities to all traders from Pakistan. Right now, trade between Pakistan and China is US$ 6.9 billion but in coming four years it will cross the US$15 billion mark by opening new venues for Pakistani products.
Q: Is Pakistan's stance on terrorism right?
H.E: Yes, very right but terrorism is a global issue and whole international community can fight terrorism. Laying all responsibility on Pakistan's shoulder isn't right. Here, I want to mention that Pakistan is a sovereign country and no one has the right to interfere in her affairs.
Q: In a press conference last month, the Indian naval chief has termed Gwadar a serious strategic threat for India and Indian logistics?
H.E: Reservations on Gwadar port are not right. After due completion of the port construction of Chinese engineers will leave Pakistan whereas management of this harbour has already been handed over to the Singapore Port Authority (SPA). So, infact, there is no strategic harm for any regional country.
Q: Recently, Indo-China joint military exercises were conducted; do you think these measures will effect Sino-Pak relations?
H.E: No, we have deep and long lasting relations with Pakistan and these strong ties can never be affected. As far as the matter of joint military exercises with India is concerned that was only due to our policy of making new friends, our appetite for new economic market and search for trade partners.
Q: What you can say about the ongoing work on F-22P Frigates for Pakistan Navy and Joint JF-17 Thunder projects?
H.E: I can only say that these along with all other projects regarding defence cooperation are in full swing and will be completed in time.
