Year of the Monkey

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For Westerners, the January 1 New Year celebrations are history, but Chinese people the world over are just getting ready to celebrate Chinese New Year on 21 January. The origin of the Chinese New Year is too old to be traced, although many colorful legends surround it. The most famous one is about a monster named ‘Nian’, which in modern Chinese means ‘year’. Legend says that the ferocious Nian, with his big antennas, started killing people on the eve of Chinese New Year. Naturally, the people were very scared, fleeing from their homes to take refuge on that day. So, the Jade Emperor summoned a wise old man to come and subdue Nian. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, when Nian returned to eat the villagers, he found the atmosphere of the countryside different from previous years: Red papers hung on every door and bright lights illuminated every house. Nian trembled with fear and bellowed with rage. And when he approached a house door, he was scared away by very loud explosions in the yard. So it was said that Nian was afraid of red color, firelight and the sound of firecrackers, and he never came back again. From then on, people once again began to enjoy their peaceful lives.

Today, the Chinese New Year%s a time when families busily clean their homes, decorating their houses with poetic couplets and special folk paper cut-outs that proclaim happiness, wealth, etc. On Chinese New Year%s Eve, supper is a feast, with all the family members dining together. A very popular dish is jiaozi, dumplings boiled in water. On New Year’s Eve, people stay up as late as possible with all the lights on and see the Nian (year) away. At midnight, the sky is lit up by fireworks. The next morning, people visit relatives and friends and say ”gong xi fa cai” to everyone, which means ”have a happy and prosperous New Year”, parents give their children presents in the form of pocket money wrapped in red paper, and everywhere there are lots of traditional performances, such as Chinese lion and dragon dances with a hubbub of drums, stilt walking and amazing acrobatic shows. Lions and dragons play important roles in Chinese mythology, the lion representing joy and happiness and the dragon representing power, luck and honors. These traditional dances are performed to bring good luck and get rid of the devil.

The Chinese New Year is based on the 12 zodiacs. The 12 Chinese zodiac signs are utilized scientifically for recording the year in a 12 year cycle, naming each year after an animal. The order of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs is rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Babies born in that year have this animal as their birth sign. 2004 is the Year of the Monkey, and it’s said that generally a ‘monkey person’ is clever and innovative, a fast learner with a good memory and good social skills but who can also be selfish and egoistical.

On January 24, Den Haag’s traditional Chinese New Year festivities begin at 12:00 with lion and dragon dances on the Spuiplein (Tram 1 from Delft), followed at 13:00 by a parade thru Chinatown. From 16:00 to 17:00, the big demonstrations on the Spuiplein will host Taichi and Chinese kongfu exhibitions and traditional Chinese dance performances.

Den Haag is the place to be on January 24th to enjoy the unique history and celebrations of the Chinese New Year. 2004%s festivities will include a parade through Chinatown and dance and martial art exhibitions.

For Westerners, the January 1 New Year celebrations are history, but Chinese people the world over are just getting ready to celebrate Chinese New Year on 21 January. The origin of the Chinese New Year is too old to be traced, although many colorful legends surround it. The most famous one is about a monster named ‘Nian’, which in modern Chinese means ‘year’. Legend says that the ferocious Nian, with his big antennas, started killing people on the eve of Chinese New Year. Naturally, the people were very scared, fleeing from their homes to take refuge on that day. So, the Jade Emperor summoned a wise old man to come and subdue Nian. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, when Nian returned to eat the villagers, he found the atmosphere of the countryside different from previous years: Red papers hung on every door and bright lights illuminated every house. Nian trembled with fear and bellowed with rage. And when he approached a house door, he was scared away by very loud explosions in the yard. So it was said that Nian was afraid of red color, firelight and the sound of firecrackers, and he never came back again. From then on, people once again began to enjoy their peaceful lives.

Today, the Chinese New Year%s a time when families busily clean their homes, decorating their houses with poetic couplets and special folk paper cut-outs that proclaim happiness, wealth, etc. On Chinese New Year%s Eve, supper is a feast, with all the family members dining together. A very popular dish is jiaozi, dumplings boiled in water. On New Year’s Eve, people stay up as late as possible with all the lights on and see the Nian (year) away. At midnight, the sky is lit up by fireworks. The next morning, people visit relatives and friends and say ”gong xi fa cai” to everyone, which means ”have a happy and prosperous New Year”, parents give their children presents in the form of pocket money wrapped in red paper, and everywhere there are lots of traditional performances, such as Chinese lion and dragon dances with a hubbub of drums, stilt walking and amazing acrobatic shows. Lions and dragons play important roles in Chinese mythology, the lion representing joy and happiness and the dragon representing power, luck and honors. These traditional dances are performed to bring good luck and get rid of the devil.

The Chinese New Year is based on the 12 zodiacs. The 12 Chinese zodiac signs are utilized scientifically for recording the year in a 12 year cycle, naming each year after an animal. The order of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs is rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Babies born in that year have this animal as their birth sign. 2004 is the Year of the Monkey, and it’s said that generally a ‘monkey person’ is clever and innovative, a fast learner with a good memory and good social skills but who can also be selfish and egoistical.

On January 24, Den Haag’s traditional Chinese New Year festivities begin at 12:00 with lion and dragon dances on the Spuiplein (Tram 1 from Delft), followed at 13:00 by a parade thru Chinatown. From 16:00 to 17:00, the big demonstrations on the Spuiplein will host Taichi and Chinese kongfu exhibitions and traditional Chinese dance performances.