Chinese New Year

by Patricia Bjaaland Welch

No date in the Chinese calendar is accorded greater importance than New Year's Day. This colorful book provides a complete introduction and guide to the celebration of the Lunar New Year, describing its origins and such contemporary practices as holiday greetings, gift-giving, and food. Directed at tourists and residents alike, it explores customs both in China and among Chinese communities worldwide.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195877306
• ISBN13: 9780195877304
• Release Date: April 1997
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.1" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Unlocking the secret symbolisms of Chinese New Year

FULL DISCLOSURE: A note from the author: If you've ever wandered through the streets of a Chinese city during Chinese New Year (or any Chinatown in the world during Chinese New Year) and wondered why there are so many stands selling oranges and pomelos, cans of abalone, and flowering plum or pussywillow branches, this is the book for you. You'll discover that this is a festival unlike any other as many of the activities and symbols have origins in ancient myths and even more modern word plays and puns. I've tried to record this special holiday in simple, easy-to-read language with lots of references to both classical and modern Chinese practices to enrich the experience for anyone who finds themself in a country celebrating this wonderful holiday.