The Chinese New Year takes place on February 3rd, 2011 and is known as Xin Mao or the Year of the Rabbit. The annual celebration is based on the Chinese calendar which has been in use for centuries. It predates the International Calendar (based on the Gregorian Calendar) in use at the present, which goes back only 430 years.
Collecting All 12 Chinese Zodiac Pins
Custom lapel pins featuring the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac can be fun to collect throughout the year. Acquiring each pin can be challenging and rewarding at the same time. Families can make it a game to learn about each symbol and what it means. They can even go one step further to determine which animal sign their birth year falls under. For example, children born in 1999 are rabbits according to the Chinese Zodiac. Since 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, girls and boys born under this sign have extra reason to celebrate.
At Parades and Other Festivities
Businesses participating in Chinese New Year events can hand out custom lapel pins to attendees. These individuals can then help spread the word about a parade or festival by wearing the pins on a shirt or jacket. This will help generate interest in the Chinese New Year and help educate others about its historical significance. Individuals wanting to learn more about an event can approach a coordinator or volunteer and ask questions. These men and women can be identified by the lapel pins that they wear.
Some Interesting Facts About Chinese New Year
Custom lapel pins are a great way to remember this year’s celebration. Here are some facts about the Chinese New Year that might help you enjoy it even more:
On the fifteenth final day of the Chinese New Year celebrations, the Chinese Lantern Festival is observed. Chinese families walk the streets with lanterns as a way of marking the end of festivities and eat traditional dishes.
A red envelope or hong bao ( Lai Si in Cantonese) is a monetary gift given in Chinese society. Its name comes from the red envelope in which the money is contained. Red is considered to be a lucky color and the amount of money in the envelope usually contains a lot of eights which is similar in sound to the Chinese word for prosperity.
Traditional Chinese New Year greetings include: Kung Hei Fat Choi (Mandarin: gong xi fa cai) - “congratulations and be prosperous” and xīn nián kuài lè - “Happy New Year.”
Custom lapel pins round out every Chinese New Year celebration. Large or small, they make great gifts for people of all ages.