Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is celebrated worldwide to mark the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year and celebrations can last for about 15 days.

The Chinese New Year for 2012 is on January 23 and marks the Year of the Dragon.
Picture of a typical long dragon float for the Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is a festive occasion that calls for celebration in many places around the world. ©iStockphoto.com/araraadt
What do people do?

Chinese New Year is the most important and longest of all Chinese festivals, celebrated in Chinese communities throughout the world. Chinese New Year celebrations have certain variations from country to country but they all usually include offerings to household deities, house cleaning, new clothes, a large banquet, ancestor worship and firecrackers. Families may gather for special meals on this occasion.

People may also wear red clothes and give children “lucky money” in red envelopes. Household doors are thrown open to let good luck enter on the first day of the New Year. Families go out to visit friends and worship at temples. Words are carefully watched to avoid saying anything that signifies death, sickness or poverty.

Chinese New Year may also feature lantern festival, where people hang decorated lanterns in temples and carry lanterns to an evening parade. Dragon and lion dances are performed around this time of the year with many people supporting the long dragons, which are typically made of silk, paper and bamboo. Acrobatic demonstrations, the beating of gongs and the clashing of cymbals are also popular activities as part of the Chinese New Year festivities.
Public life

Chinese New Year is a public holiday in China, where the public holiday lasts for about three days. It is also a public holiday in countries such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, North Korea, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam.

It is not a public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States. However, some businesses may close early and some streets may be closed for a short while to allow for festival parades to take place.
Background

The Chinese New Year festival is believed to date back to prehistory. It marks the start of the new lunar cycle and is called the Spring Festival (in the northern hemisphere) as it falls between the December solstice and the March equinox. China follows the Gregorian calendar for daily business but the dates of the Chinese New Year and other important festivals are determined by the Chinese calendar.

The Chinese New Year, which is the first day of the first month, in the Chinese calendar is assigned to an animal. According to one belief, Buddha promised gifts to all animals that would pay him homage. Only 12 animals came to honor Buddha so, to favor these 12 animals, each one was given one of the 12 years of the Chinese zodiac. People born during one of the animal's years are said to inherit distinctive characteristics of that animal. The signs repeat every 12 years. The animal signs are:

    Rat – ambitious and sincere.
    Ox – bright, cheery, and a leader.
    Tiger – courageous and sensitive.
    Rabbit – talented and loving.
    Dragon – robust and passionate.
    Snake – wise and strong-willed.
    Horse – attractive and popular.
    Sheep – aesthetic and stylish.
    Monkey – persuasive and smart.
    Rooster – pioneering spirit and wise.
    Dog – generous and loyal.
    Boar (or pig) – gallant and noble.

The Chinese calendar is based on astronomical observations of the sun's longitude and the moon's phases. It is believed to have been introduced by Emperor Huangdi (or Huang Ti) at some stage around 2600 to 3000 years BCE. According to legend, the emperor invited the calendar in 2637 BCE. This calendar predates the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in 1582. The Chinese lunar calendar is used to determine festivals, so the dates of these festivals vary each year. Various Chinese communities around the world also use this calendar.
Symbols

Chinese New Year has various symbols and traditions. For example, flowers are an important part of New Year decorations. Two flowers that are often associated with Chinese New Year are the plum blossom (courage and hope) and the water narcissus (good luck and fortune). Writings that refer to good luck are often seen in homes and business environments. They are usually written by brush on a diamond-shaped piece of red paper. Tangerines and oranges are also displayed in many homes and stores as a sign of luck and wealth.

Envelopes with money (Hong Bao, Ang Pao, or Lai See), often come in the color red, which symbolizes happiness, good luck, success and good fortune. The color red is also used on these envelopes to ward off evil spirits. These envelopes are mainly given as presents to children. Each Chinese New Year is associated with an animal name for one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, as mentioned earlier.

Chinese New Year in Canada

Many people in countries such as Canada celebrate Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. It marks the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar.

Chinese New Year celebrations often involve firecrackers and people giving money in red envelopes to others, particularly children. ©iStockphoto.com/Liang Zhang

What do people do?

Chinese New Year is a vibrant and festive occasion for many people in Canada. This event can last for many days and often includes various festivities such as street parades and festivals featuring dancing, traditional Chinese costumes, firework displays, food stalls, and arts and crafts.

Many Chinese Canadian families spend time together giving gifts, particularly red envelopes with money (Hong Bao, Ang Pao, or Lai See) that are normally given to children. Some Canadian organizations have also participated in Chinese New Year through various activities over the years. For example, Canada Post issued special stamps to welcome the Chinese New Year in previous times. The Royal Canadian Mint also marked Chinese New Year with a new series of coins in the past.

Public life

Chinese New Year is not a nationwide public holiday in Canada. However, some Chinese businesses may be closed on the day or amend their business hours to take part in the Chinese New Year festivities. There may be heavy traffic and some streets may be closed in towns or cities where Chinese New Year celebrations are held.

Background

The Chinese community in Canada has a long history dating back to the 19th century. The Chinese moved to Canada for various reasons related to employment and opportunities associated with the Canada’s growth. All across Canada, starting in the 1890s, cities and larger towns began to develop their own Chinatown districts.

British Columbia was home to more than 60 percent of Canada's Chinese before World War II, according to sources such as Library and Archives Canada. But for many years after a ban on Chinese immigration was revoked in 1947, the province received only one-third of new Chinese immigrants. This meant that Chinese families were settling all across Canada. Canada is today seen as a multicultural country in which festivals such as Chinese New Year are celebrated each year.

Symbols

Chinese New Year has various symbols and traditions. For example, flowers are an important part of New Year decorations. Writings that refer to good luck are often seen in homes and business environments. They are usually written by brush on a diamond-shaped piece of red paper. Tangerines and oranges are also displayed in many homes and stores as a sign of luck and wealth.

Envelopes with money (Hong Bao, Ang Pao, or Lai See) often come in the color red, which symbolizes happiness, good luck, success and good fortune.  These envelopes are mainly given as presents to children. Each Chinese New Year is associated with an animal name for one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.

About Chinese New Year in other countries

Read more about Chinese New Year.

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras 2013 Date

When:19th January - 12th February 2013
Where: New Orleans, USA

Mardi Gras is an incredible and almost indescribable celebration in New Orleans, USA. If you had to try though, you would call it One Big Party! It is absolutely unique and comes complete with parades, floats, picnics, music, dancing, costumes, beads, artists, amazing food and an all-round party atmosphere. Creative costumes, mini-parades, organised and impromptu entertainment, walking clubs, laughter, and street theater and much, much more is everywhere, especially on the Canal Street. Everybody dresses in purple, green and gold (the official colours of Mardi Gras), and you will bump into innumerable street musicians and artists as you walk around the city. All offices are closed on this holiday, since most roads are blocked anyway. There is an infectious air of excitement - be sure to catch this virus, because everybody there will be in high spirits!

Mardi Gras 2013 celebration

The Parades start about two weeks before the day of Mardi Gras. There are several types of parades; some are rolled out by traditional Krewes who have tableau balls, and an elected king and queen. These Krewes go back to the 1800's and have helped establish Mardi Gras traditions in New Orleans. The Krewe of Rex presents the oldest parade, which dates back to 1872. The King of Rex is the official King of Carnival.

This year, parades will start on January 19th. However, bear in mind that all parade activities will pause from January 28th – February 5th, due to the Super Bowl XLVII. Parade activity will resume as normal from February 6th – 12th.

Things to do at Mardi Gras

If you travelling with children, and want to enjoy outdoor picnics and watch the self-proclaimed ‘Greatest Free Show on Earth’, this is the place to be! While waiting for the parades, you can watch marching bands, listen to the music in the air, and catch toys, doubloons and beads that are being ‘thrown’!

You can sit down on your chair or right on the ground while revellers around you throw frisbees and walk their dogs. Watch for the approaching parades, grab some cotton candy and see if you can catch doubloons from the many celebrities that tend to make an appearance here!

When to arrive

Remember to not confuse Mardi Gras with Carnival! Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday and marks the final day of excitement before Ash Wednesday, which is when Lent begins. This year, Mardi Gras falls on February 12th - the date of Mardi Gras changes every year because it is connected to Easter, which falls on any Sunday between March 23 - April 25. Mardi Gras is scheduled to be 47 days before Easter.

The weekend before Fat Tuesday is the prime time to visit. This is when two of the biggest parades of the season, Bacchus and Endymion, cruise down the streets.

Don’t forget to look for great package deals on hotels that offer you a balcony view of the parades!

Trivia

The first Mardi Gras parade was held in New Orleans on February 24, 1857 by the Krewe of Comus. They began the tradition of presenting a parade with floats and following it with a ball for the Krewe and their guests.

Most krewes are named after figures from Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythology; some are named after the neighborhood where they parade.

Each parade krewe decides upon its own theme each year, which can be kept secret until the parade.

Rex, the King of Carnival, selected the Mardi Gras colors and gave them meaning in 1892. Purple stands for justice, green for faith, and gold for power.

The tradition of float riders throwing trinkets to the crowds began in the 1870s. Typical ‘throws’ include beads, cups, doubloons, and stuffed animals.

Kumbh Mela 2013

Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 Date

When:27th January - 25th February 2013
Where: Allahabad, UP

Organised once every 12 years, the Maha Kumbh Mela is touted as being the greatest festival and pilgrimage destination in the Hindu religion. The celebration of Kumbh Mela takes places at four different locations, namely Prayag (Allahabad), Ujjain, Haridwar and Nasik; however, the Maha Kumbh Mela is held only once in twelve years in Allahabad. It is a cultural and religious spectacle that attracts visitors and pilgrims from all over the world.

The city of Allahabad is situated at the confluence of India's holiest rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna and the Saraswati, known as the Sangam, where bathing is considered especially auspicious. The mela witnesses the largest gathering of Hindus, who all bathe in the holy water. According to the ancient Vedic texts, one who takes a dip in any of the four holy places during the Kumbh Mela, will attain ‘Moksha’ and gain liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Millions of saints, monks, and sadhus (sage) attend this grand festival. The Maha Kumbh Mela has been called "the world's most massive act of faith" – the largest congregation of devotees at one place, and is a once in a lifetime experience.

Sadhus at Kumbh Mela

Pilgrims and sadhus are an integral part of the Kumbh Mela. People arrive from around the world to see and listen to these holy men, in order to gain spiritual enlightenment. There are various ‘kinds of sadhus’ attending the festival. Here’s a quick guide:

Nagas - These are naked sadhus, with long matted hair. Their bare bodies are normally smeared with ash. Constant exposure to the cold weather makes them resistant to extreme temperatures.

Kalpvasis - These sadhus remain by the river banks and devote their time to performing rituals, meditating and bathing several times a day.

Parivajakas - These sadhus have taken a vow of silence.

Shirshasinse - These sadhus always remain standing and sleep with their heads resting on a vertical pole. They also meditate standing on their heads.

Urdhwavahurs - These sadhus have emaciated bodies due to years and years of rigid spiritual practices.

Kumbh Mela Rituals

Pilgrims usually start coming in to begin their ceremonial bathing in the holy waters of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati from around 3:00 am, which continues until late evening. The sadhus start their bathing rituals at sunrise, with vibrant processions from the Kumbh Mela grounds to the holy bathing area. Different sects of sadhus have different timings set for bathing.

It is impossible to entirely capture the essence of the Maha Kumbh Festival through words, photos, films or paintings, which can hardly do justice to something so massive and spiritual.

Auspicious dates for Maha Kumbh Mela 2013

The Maha Kumbh Festival 2013 is speculated to be one of the largest congregations in the history of mankind. This time, it will be held from 27th January to 25th February 2013.

27th Jan 2013 - Paush Purnima

06th Feb 2013 - Ekadashi Snan

10th Feb 2013 - Mauni Amavasya Snan

15th Feb 2013 - Basant Panchami Snan

17th Feb 2013 - Rath Saptami Snan

18th Feb 2013 - Bhisma Ekadashi Snan

25th Feb 2013 - Maghi Purnima Snan

How to get there

Allahabad is served by the Allahabad Airport and is linked to Delhi and Kolkata by JetLite and Air India Regional. Other airports in the vicinity are at Varanasi (Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport 125 km) and Lucknow (Amausi International Airport 238 km).

Allahabad houses the headquarters of the North Central Railway Zone, and is well connected by trains to all major cities in India.

You can also drive down. NH2 runs through the middle of the city.

Where to stay

The city of Allahabad offers many places to stay ranging from deluxe hotels to budget hotels; however, during the Maha Kumbh Mela, tented accommodation is usually offered on the grounds of the mela. Be sure to pre-book, or make arrangements to stay elsewhere well in advance. Considering the number of devotees that descend upon the city, it is wiser to pre-book a Kumbh Mela tour package.

Tips

- Make sure you pack good, comfortable, sturdy walking shoes

- Don’t forget insect repellent, socks and a warm jacket

- Women need to be fully clothed when they bathe in the Ganges. They will not be allowed to wear swimsuits.

Rio Carnival 2013

Mardi Gras at Rio: The Greatest Street Show in the World

When: 9th - 12th February, 2013
Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Let me take you to the Mardi Gras... there's romance and adventure there,
music and laughter everywhere You don't want to miss the Mardi Gras...
its an endless game, a grand charade, melody makers on parade
Won't you come to the Mardi Gras?
You'll love the Mardi Gras!
- Paul Simon

Swing to the samba, rock to the rhumba and move to the merengue. Hot and spicy like the best salsa, the Rio Carnaval explodes in spontaneous combustion as enthusiastic dancers, bandas and blocos, bare chested men and bare bellied women frolic and cavort with wild abandon, unrestrained passion and infectious joie de vivre.

The Rio Carnival gives a kaleidoscopic view of the culture of Brazil at its zenith. People indulge in singing, dancing, and feasting, but the most involved in the Rio Carnival are the poorest localities (favelas) that join the festivities despite their deprived situation, and make the Carnival come alive in its true sense!

The events of the Rio Festival include Carnival Balls, Samba School Nights, Street Bands, Street Parties, parades, and a lot more. The festival concludes with the Rio Carnival Parade, or the Samba Parade. Everyone comes together as a whole to have fun. Billed as the greatest 'Free Show' anywhere, the Mardi Gras at Rio is one long party.

More information on where to stay and what to do at Rio Carnival 2013

Khajuraho Dance Festival

When: 20th - 26th February, 2013
Where: Khajuraho, India

Where the hand goes, there the eyes should follow
Where the eyes are, the mind should follow
Where the mind is, there the expression should be brought out
Where the expression is, there the rasa or flavour will be experienced by the audience.
- Lines from the Natyakram

Classical Indian dance returns to its roots - to the temples where it was conceptualised, defined and immortalised in stone. The exquisite 1000 year-old temples of Khajuraho serve as the idyllic backdrop to an art genre with an equally impressive pedigree.

As dusk gives way to the nights darkness, lamps bathe the temples in a surreal golden glow creating the perfect ambience for the past to juxtapose with the present. The mellifluous strains of the flute and the tanpura set the mood; the mridangam and the tabla beat out the rhythms echoed by the ghungroo of the dancer and time stops. Sculpted dancer come to life? Nimble footwork arrested in mid step? A dancer captured in stone or just a moment out of time?

Find out for yourself. Travel to the plains of Central India, to the temple town of Khajuraho. The weeklong Khajuraho Dance Festival features the finest young talents of Indian classical dance and presents a rare opportunity to see the maestros and grand dames of Indian dance perform.

Khajuraho Travel Guide

Vivid Sydney Festival

Vivid Sydney Festival - A festival of light, music & ideas

When: 24th May - 10th June 2013
Where: Sydney

Vivid Sydney Festival is the largest international music and light show in the Asia-Pacific region that promises to enthrall the senses of all visitors and locals. The festival of light, music, art and ideas, Vivid Sydney Festival, transforms the city of Australia into a vibrant creative hub each year attracting thousands of visitors from all over the globe. The festival is designed to showcase the entire city as one big living canvas that runs from Hyde Park through Macquarie Street, Sydney Opera House and Circular Bay. Darling Harbour too is added in the list to host a few Vivid events.

This year, two new programmes (Vivid LIVE and the Song Summit) have been added on top of last year's four to deliver a fantastic winter. Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House will bring together the best contemporary artists and cultural interpreters while the Song Summit is a gathering of local and international songwriters and music industry experts.
Fire Water is a free event featuring three nights of flame, markets and food stalls at The Rocks. Creative Sydney is a series of debates and discussions, presentations and performances geared to educate and inform. X Media Lab, themed 'Global Media Cultures' is for the world’s leading expert in creative, business and technology to share ideas. Macquarie Visions is a free public event, celebrating the 200th anniversary and story of two visionary leaders, Governor Lachlan Macquarie and his wife Elizabeth.

Vivid Sydney Festival is every photographer's dream and an event definitely not to be missed!

Related Festival

Sydney Festival
Get ready to experience the summer of your dreams with Sydney Festival in January 2013, Australia – the largest summer festival of the country.