The celebrations for Chinese New Year began last night. There were family banquets, lion dances,concerts, firecrackers and fireworks for the occasion.
The Year of the Rabbit was received traditionally. Children were given red envelopes containing money,crowds burned incense sticks in temples and adults welcomed the year eating ravioli and drank sake (rice alcohol).
“We burst firecrackers to ward off the “nian”, an efarious animal according to Chinese legend. “The fireworks make him go away, and he doesn’t come to bother us,” said a citizen who attended the celebration.
In Beijing, capital of China, the firefighters were alerted as the risk of fire increased due to drought in the city, fortunately, no fire was reported. While in the city of Shenyang, fireworks caused a luxurious hotel to get caught on fire, but there were no victims.
In Vietnam, they celebrate the Year of the Cat by differences in the zodiacal calendar. In Taiwan, a billion Taiwan dollars (25 million euros, 33 million dollars) on Friday will be ruffled in the local lottery .
The rabbit is associated with the moon and it symbolizes good luck.
Source: El Comercio
