Chinese New Year Festival - Hong Kong

The celebration of Chinese New Year is the most important of the all the Chinese holidays. Also known as the Lunar New Year, the festival commences on the eve of the first day in the first lunar month, and ends fourteen days later with the Lantern Festival. Directly translated, the Chinese name for the event, literally means change, but the mythological roots of the holiday are derived from a century old legend. It's said that a man-eating beast would emerge from the mountains to prey on the villagers nearby. In order to frighten Nian (the beast) away, bright fireworks, loud explosions and the use of the color red were employed. Today this is translated into a brilliant extravaganza of color, lights and dragon dancing and irrefutably there is no better place then Hong Kong to witnessing the modern festivities blended with the ancient legend and lore.

Links

• Website: http://www.hkfastfacts.com/Chinese%20Festivals/chinese_new_year.htm
• Website: http://www.hkta.org/eng/showtime/mega/cnyc/index.jhtml