The day of February 14th will be unusually well-celebrated this year since the Chinese Lunar New Year falls on this date and it’s Valentine’s Day in Western society. These holidays celebrate different aspects of love—personal and family love.
These holidays have several traditions in common. First, the main color of the day is red. Also food is a major part of the festivities, especially eating out for a special holiday meal. Gifts are also a part of both celebrations—candy and flowers and jewelry as well as red gift envelopes. People buy new clothes to mark the occasion, and decorate homes and businesses, and they have parties.
These holidays have several traditions in common. First, the main color of the day is red. Also food is a major part of the festivities, especially eating out for a special holiday meal. Gifts are also a part of both celebrations—candy and flowers and jewelry as well as red gift envelopes. People buy new clothes to mark the occasion, and decorate homes and businesses, and they have parties.
A Western Romantic Day
The celebration of Valentine’s Day is mainly focused on couples who are in the romantic stages of love, but it has expanded to the secondary markets of grade school children and all people who want to show they care.
Some people remember that the holiday is based on St. Valentine, a centuries-old saint in European legend, but for most people the “Saint” has been dropped.
Children give Valentine cards to their classmates and have parties with pink cookies and punch, and grandparents take the opportunity to send their grandchildren Valentine cards. Hearts are the main symbol, with Cupid showing up now and then with his bow and arrow, shooting an arrow to make a person fall in love.
In the romantic context, the holiday gives people a chance to reach deep into their hearts and bring out their most loving feelings toward their partner (or intended, as the case may be), expressing on this one day the feelings that might sit silently inside for the rest of the year.
Often ladies will buy red dresses for this day, or pull one out of the closet, especially if they are going out to celebrate at an elegant dinner. And lingerie is a popular purchase at this time, emphasizing the feminine aspect in a lady’s life.
Some people remember that the holiday is based on St. Valentine, a centuries-old saint in European legend, but for most people the “Saint” has been dropped.
Children give Valentine cards to their classmates and have parties with pink cookies and punch, and grandparents take the opportunity to send their grandchildren Valentine cards. Hearts are the main symbol, with Cupid showing up now and then with his bow and arrow, shooting an arrow to make a person fall in love.
In the romantic context, the holiday gives people a chance to reach deep into their hearts and bring out their most loving feelings toward their partner (or intended, as the case may be), expressing on this one day the feelings that might sit silently inside for the rest of the year.
Often ladies will buy red dresses for this day, or pull one out of the closet, especially if they are going out to celebrate at an elegant dinner. And lingerie is a popular purchase at this time, emphasizing the feminine aspect in a lady’s life.
Chinese New Year
The celebration of Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, is focused on love for the family as a whole. College students come home for a two-week break, workers in the city return to their family home for the holiday, and the celebration lasts for days.
Traditionally it is a chance to get rid of the bad things and welcome in good things. The house is cleaned from top to bottom and people go shopping for new clothes.
The climax of the holiday is a family feast, often at a special restaurant offering special Chinese New Year dishes. And after dinner, the children are given a red envelope with money inside as a New Year’s wish for prosperity.
Red lanterns and gold coins are symbols of the holiday, and don’t forget firecrackers to scare away the evil.
Traditionally it is a chance to get rid of the bad things and welcome in good things. The house is cleaned from top to bottom and people go shopping for new clothes.
The climax of the holiday is a family feast, often at a special restaurant offering special Chinese New Year dishes. And after dinner, the children are given a red envelope with money inside as a New Year’s wish for prosperity.
Red lanterns and gold coins are symbols of the holiday, and don’t forget firecrackers to scare away the evil.
