Pinoys celebrate Chinese New Year in Hong Kong!

At 12;00 am this Sunday we enter two weeks of
Chinese New Year celebrations. February 18th 2007
welcomes in the first day of the Year of the Fire Pig in
Chinese Astrology. Good and bad fortune awaits us all
in the months to come…..

Chinese New Year has a history stretching back
centuries. Legend tells of a man-eating beast, Nian,
extremely fierce, with a long head and sharp horns.
Normally Nian dwelt deep in the sea but once a year,
on Chinese New Year’s Eve, he would climb onto land
devouring livestock and terrorizing humans.

One Chinese New Year’s Eve a wise grey haired
man appeared. In return for permission to stay the
night in a small village in China, he promised to
chase ayay Nian.

When Nian arrived late that evening to wreak havoc
he was met with a sudden burst of exploding
firecrackers, noise, and banners flying through the air.
Frightened by the sounds, flashes of light and red
banners flying about, Nian hastily turned around and
fled!

The following day, the people woke up to a safe
village. The old man had left. It was obvious he had
been a deity who had come to free them of the evil
beast. He left behind the remains of the three items
he had used to chase the beast Nian away.

From that year on, every Chinese New Year’s Eve,
families across the world hang red banners, set off
firecrackers and light lamps the whole night through,
awaiting Chinese New Year. The custom has spread
far and wide and become a grand traditional celebration
of the “Passing of Nian”, or the “Passing of the Year”.

We welcome you to a New Year: the Year of the Pig!
It promises to be a good year for the economy, for travel,
a year for looking after your health – and an excellent
year for having children!

Use these next two weeks to celebrate, visit your
family and friends. Give them gifts of biscuits, chocolates
and fruits. And remember this Saturday night, prepare
a great feast, and open every door and window in the
house to let go of an old year and welcome in an
entire new year…