Chinese New Year

Dragon Parade

           The ceremony of Chinese New year is the most exciting, energized, astounding festival of all festivals in Thailand. Parades and procession of dragon dancers and people with masks of all sorts march down the street in China Towns all over the world especially Asia. They represent the coming of the Chinese New Year-the most important day on the Chinese calendar. Children receive gifts from family and friends, a tradional one the 'Ang Pao' (red envelopes containing money). The preparations for the great feast begin two days before the actual day. Mothers and wives go to markets to buy foods and goods for the table and other special offering . This is the last day shops are open before the big day. The last day of the year so the day before new years day Chinese and other Asian people prepare offerings and pray to their gods and ancestors. On this day three prayers get said. One in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. After each prayer the people burn golden paper, for luck and it is thought to bring them luck in their after life. New years day is the most important and festive of all three days. People go and visit family members and close family and give them gifts like oranges ,symbolically. The warding off of the demons ceremony is done by lions people dancing in unique Chinese actions. This ceremony is very traditional and although it is not typically Thai, majority of people still celebrate it.