The Chinese Lunar New Year

The lunar new year is coming up January 26 and I thought I write a bit more on the subject. I thought it was interesting to note that just like Japanese culture the house is cleaned on December 31, the same is done here only the house is cleaned before the lunar New Year and a special type of couplet/poem is written and placed above the entrance ways.

Chun lian is a special type of duilian and is used only during the lunar New Year. While duilian is permanent, chunlian is a temporary decoration but with changing times some people may keep them up all year long.These couplets are written on vertical strips of red paper in the best calligraphic style, but in these changing times I am sure it is no longer uncommon to see couplets made on Adobe Photoshop or Macromedia Fireworks!

The first, called upper line is posted on the right side of the front entrance way. The second, called lower line is posted on the left side of the front entrance. In addition a third horizontal line may be posted across and on top of the front entrance.

「大地回春」

「冬去山明 透」

「春来鳥語花香」

So this is the couplet

The translation is as follows:
The first(right side): Spring arrives, birds sing, fragrant flowers
The second(left side): Winter leaves, clear mountain water sparkles
The third(top): Spring returns to earth

Years are named in 60-year cycles with the name of the year repeated every 60-years. This year is the seventh year of the 60 year cycle. This year will be the year 4706. Interesting fact: Did you know that 2004 was a leap year? I don’t mean just one day added to the year but according to the lunar calendar a month is added sometime around the second month of the lunar new year. …and where was my extra pay check!

Tags: Lunar new year