When has the New Year Begins in the Lunar Calendar

Many of Us would celebrate the Lunar New Year when we see the dates of the Calendar 'marked' in RED and indicated that it is New Year and the chinese character that reads in mandarin "chue yi" or cantonee "chor yat"

Everyone celebrates the lunar new year when 'Chinatown' in most parts of the world selling all the new year stuff of chinese decorative of origami of "Fish", carps figures and chinese character of "Fook" pronounce in Cantonese or "Fu" in mandarin. Chinatown will be packed and florist selling peach blossom plants, tangerine plants at an exorbitant price. Supermarkets with extend operating hours and extend area of display beyond their space/territory displaying their wares such as all table cloth, mat and other household necessities. Bank with long queue where people exchange for new bank notes and banks and financial insitions giving out red packets or red envelopes. People going to the car wash to have their car washed and polished.

Many would assume that new starts when the figures on the calendar are indicated in Red. However, it is not so accurated to follow that. New Year is the start of spring. People from China would call it the "Spring Festival" in Mandarin it is "Chun Jie". The begining of Spring. Spring is the promise of new life. Where plants awakes from their hibenating during the cold winter months and moisture in the air that gives life back to these plants.

The Begining of Spring or the New Season or the New Year is when the characters on your Lunar calendar reads "Lap Chun" pronounced in Cantonese or "Li Chun" in Mandarin. "Lap Chun" which I would usually like to read in Cantonese is the begining of the New Year. I believe not many Chinese in Singapore understands or some chinese from other countries.

They celebrate it only when businesses start putting up lunar new year decorative around their outlets and decorative are being put up in shopping malls. These are business strategies for selling off the winter goods left over from Christmas Sale and sell them during the rush for new outfits for Lunar New Year.

Do fall into these traps for they are just another business gimmick. Learn how to read the Chinese character on your calendar and celebrate appropriately.