another year of good fortune is began in
China fireworks pop higher in the sky
dragon stands in the streets and the
city slows down to celebrate Chinese New
Year in Chinese culture it's the most
important time of the year rooted in
traditions and customs passed down
through the ages a celebration lasts for
15 magical days full of family
togetherness delicious food and good
fortune today Chinese New Year is built
with happiness but according to legend
it didn't start out that way a long long
time ago in China there was a big scary
nasty Beast minion whose name means year
he had razor-sharp teeth giant claws a
really mean growl most of the time he
lived in the wilderness but in the
darkest night of the year when the noon
was in the sky he would sneak into the
village and scare everyone in sight even
the animals people dreaded the new moon
for many many years until a Wiseman
taught them the three things nyan was
afraid of loud noises fire and the color
red the next time Yin King the villagers
fought back they hid their drums as loud
as they could let every firecracker they
had and worried the color red from head
to toe knee and rim far away and never
came back after that the people started
celebrating the new moon instead of
fearing it that celebration became a 15
day festival of family food and good
fortune called Chinese New Year every
Chinese New Year is always represented
by one of 12 animals and the Chinese
zodiac chosen by the Jade Emperor
centuries and centuries ago according to
legend a long time ago in China the Jade
Emperor held a great race the first 12
animals to reach his palace would be the
winners and they would each get a year
named after them in their honor during
the race the Ox was winning until he had
to cross the rushing river
the rep was right behind him and could
have swung very well so the kind offs
let the rat ride on his back as soon as
they got to the other side the rat
jumped off and scurried to the finish
line to win the race that's why the
first year in the Chinese zodiac
calendar is a year of the rep 11 other
animals reach the palace to create the
12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac it's
said that the animal your birth year is
named after can shape your personality
and destiny you might be honest like a
dragon or smart like a monkey when your
animal takes its turn in the zodiac
cycle legend has it that your year will
be full of surprises but no matter what
generally you are everyone is excited to
honor these ancient traditions even in
modern New Year celebrations today
Chinese New Year whose families together
all over the world in fact billions of
people travel back to their homes and
families in China to feast on a
delicious reunion dinner but plates and
plates of homemade food many of the
floats like egg rolls noodles and shrimp
mean something special egg rolls
symbolize wealth for the coming year
because they look like bars of solid
gold
chow mein noodles shouldn't be cut
because long noodle symbolize health for
a long life shrimp symbolizes happiness
because the Mandarin words for shrimp
and smile sounds very similar as part of
the festivities lucky red envelopes
called home bow are passed out to
children as well as unmarried adults in
Chinese culture the color red symbolizes
luck in order to receive the red
envelopes well wishes are given till the
eldest
money is inside each envelope to bring
prosperity and good fortune in the
coming year during all 15 days of
Chinese New Year it is a time to reflect
on the passing year and celebrate the
future bright fireworks light up the sky
and shoot parades lined streets until
the final day of the New Year
celebration the Lantern Festival and
thousands of red lanterns glow in the
night to bring good fortune to all no
matter where you live you can join the
festivities
whether it's one reunion dinner with
your family or 15 days of celebrating -
governs Chinese New Year is open to
everyone we invite you to learn more and
join the celebration at Panda Express
rare good-fortune
smiles