Chiharu's Creative Corner

On January 31st in downtown Riverside, was transported to the beauty of the magnificent ancient orient, beginning with a spectacular parade of nations, opening ceremonies, then traditional Asian music, taiko drums, dance performances, art displays and day-long demonstration of martial arts, cosplayers and a range of Asian cultural displays of various kinds conducted by community and professional groups alike, throughout the day on four separate stages. Enjoying the days events with authentic Asian foods of the far east and a variety of teas at the tea pavilion to tantalize the pallet. Encouraged dressing the part of the festivities with Asian attire along with the hundreds of traditional cultural garbs from all over Asia and south pacific. Lastly, the closing ceremony with a spectacular fireworks display scaring off the said evil spirits and welcoming the Lunar New Year filled with much luck and prosperity. The cultural experience was priceless.

The Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is commonly called “Lunar New Year”, because it is based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year’s Eve is known as chú xī. It literally means “Year-pass Eve”. Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. Ancient Chinese New Year is a reflection on how the people behaved and what they believed in the most.

Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Han Chinese populations, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction. These include Korean, Tibetan and Bhutanese, Mongolian,Vietnamese, and the Japanese before 1873.