Chinese New Year 2012 - Year of the Dragon
Gong Xi Fa Ca! The traditional Chinese New Year greeting which means "wishing you prosperity" in Mandarin.
The New Year is the longest and most important of the Chinese holidays, celebrated by millions of ethnic Chinese people all over the world. For many it is the biggest family reunion for which people endure hours of cramped travel on public transportation to get home. The festival, which last 15 days, begins on the first day of the month with the Chinese calendar known as "Zhen yue" and culminates on the date of the full moon with the lantern festival. Each of the 15 days has a particular role, often the first day is set aside for people to honour the elders within their family. Ceremonies are held to pay homage to deities and ancestors in which people pray for good harvest and good fortune. It is also known as Spring Festival as it is the start of spring in the Chinese calendar and marks the end of the winter season .
At Songbolin Temple, one of the most popular around Changhua County, situated at the bottom of the Ba Gua Shan mountain range, thousands of people gather on New Year's Day to receive blessings, worship and pray for their ancestors and prosperity. Below is a full article on the festival along with a series of photographs.
To read the full article click "read more" below