Happy new year!

[A Mafan]

Wan shi Sui yi!

[Fu Lai]

雪花舞，红梅俏，一年伊始春节到，东风吹，花儿笑，景色明媚春光好，爆竹响，新年到，吉祥话儿都送到，原你春节心情好，事业顺利步步高，蛇年吉祥

 

Google translate: Snow dance, hong mei qiao, at the beginning of the year Spring Festival, the east wind, the flowers smile, the scenery beautiful spring scenery good, firecrackers ring, New Year, good luck to you all, the original message to the Spring Festival in a good mood, career step by step, the snake year auspicious

Edited February 9, 2013 by Fu Lai (see edit history)

[Fu Lai]

DAYS OF THE NEW YEAR
(borrowed from the wiki)

The first day is for the welcoming of the deities of the heavens and earth, officially beginning at midnight. It is a traditional practice to light fireworks, burn bamboo sticks and firecrackers and to make as much of a din as possible to chase off the evil spirits as encapsulated by nian (年) of which the term guo-nian (过年) was derived. Many people, especially Buddhists, abstain from meat consumption on the first day because it is believed that this will ensure longevity for them. Some consider lighting fires and using knives to be bad luck on New Year's Day, so all food to be consumed is cooked the days before. On this day, it is considered bad luck to use the broom.

Most importantly, the first day of Chinese New Year is a time to honor one's elders and families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended families, usually their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.

For Buddhists, the first day is also the birthday of Maitreya Bodhisattva (better known as the more familiar Budai Luohan), the Buddha-to-be. People also abstain from killing animals.

Some families may invite a lion dance troupe as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Chinese New Year as well as to evict bad spirits from the premises. Members of the family who are married also give red packets containing cash known as lai see or angpow, a form of blessings and to suppress the aging and challenges associated with the coming year, to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers. Business managers also give bonuses through red packets to employees for good luck, smooth-sailing, good health and wealth.

[Fu Lai]

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/130208-year-snake-1040a.photoblog600.jpg

[Zhou Zhou]

The house is clean, I took a bath and ate lots of jiaozi...Happy New Year 4711!

[Fu Lai]

missed this, old China pictures of New Year's celebrations:

http://english.people.com.cn/90782/8126919.html

 

http://english.people.com.cn/mediafile/201302/08/F201302081558501088275211.jpg

[Fu Lai]

http://english.people.com.cn/mediafile/201302/17/F201302170809572623330660.jpg

"People come to pray in Wuhan’s Guiyuan Temple, Feb. 10, 2013. People believe burning incense on the first day of the Lunar New Year will bring good fortune for the whole year. (Chinanews.com/Zhang Chang) (Chinanews.com/Zhang Chang)"

http://english.people.com.cn/102774/8130805.html

 

I was there that day and also burnt incense.