Chinese new year launching on Jan. 23 06-01-15

	NORDIS WEEKLY January 15, 2006
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Chinese new year launching on Jan. 23
BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 12) — The traditional Chinese Spring Festival will be launched during the flag-raising ceremony in front of the city hall on January 23. The January 27 grand parade emphasizes the continuing good relationship of the Filipino-Chinese community here, city Mayor Braulio Yaranon said during the press conference at the Hotel Supreme, here. Yaranon, member of the Spring Festival executive committee (execom), said the Filipino-Chinese community has been extending its contributions to the city. Peter L. Ng, chairperson of the Committee on Parade, told the media that on the Lunar Calendar, the Year of the Fire Dog would begin on January 29. However, the execom agreed and made January 27 to highlight this one-week celebration with the grand dragon parade. The chairperson of the Committee on awards Dr. Charles Cheng gave a brief background about the Spring Festival and the significance of the Year of the Dog as he greeted everyone “Kung hei fat choy!” Cheng explained that “Kung hei” means “Greetings” and “fat choy” stands for “prosperity”. He said the Chinese greet each other with this phrase to wish the recipient prosperity in all undertakings. Moreover, he noted that this celebration is more popularly known as “Spring Festival” because spring means “new beginnings”. According to Cheng, the festival started from the legend of “Nian”, a savage creature that lived beneath the sea. The Chinese believed that Nian would jump out of the water and attack villages, devouring everything along its way. Villagers then hung bright red paper on their doors and lit firecrackers to scare the monster away. Until now, the Chinese believe that bright colors and firecrackers are effective ways to drive away evil spirits. Cheng also said that the Dragon Dance has been a significant part of the event since dragon symbolizes “power.” Ivy Ng of the Hotel Supreme demonstrated how the proper preparations of the Chinese tikoy, a traditional New Year food that is believed to make those who partake of it grow. The grand parade on January 27 will start with a pair of 70 foot-long male and female dragons for the Dragon Dance. The parade will begin at 3:30 p.m., from the Casa Vallejo and will end at the Melvin Jones Grandstand where fireworks display will follow. Various establishments will also join the parade. Candies, coins, Ang Pao, ponkan and the famous “tikoy” will be shared with the parade spectators.# Katherine del Rosario/UP intern for NORDIS, with reports from Ramon Dacawi/PIO Post your comments, reactions to this article
Home \| Back to top	Previous \| Next

	NORDIS WEEKLY January 15, 2006
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
Chinese new year launching on Jan. 23
BAGUIO CITY (Jan. 12) — The traditional Chinese Spring Festival will be launched during the flag-raising ceremony in front of the city hall on January 23. The January 27 grand parade emphasizes the continuing good relationship of the Filipino-Chinese community here, city Mayor Braulio Yaranon said during the press conference at the Hotel Supreme, here. Yaranon, member of the Spring Festival executive committee (execom), said the Filipino-Chinese community has been extending its contributions to the city. Peter L. Ng, chairperson of the Committee on Parade, told the media that on the Lunar Calendar, the Year of the Fire Dog would begin on January 29. However, the execom agreed and made January 27 to highlight this one-week celebration with the grand dragon parade. The chairperson of the Committee on awards Dr. Charles Cheng gave a brief background about the Spring Festival and the significance of the Year of the Dog as he greeted everyone “Kung hei fat choy!” Cheng explained that “Kung hei” means “Greetings” and “fat choy” stands for “prosperity”. He said the Chinese greet each other with this phrase to wish the recipient prosperity in all undertakings. Moreover, he noted that this celebration is more popularly known as “Spring Festival” because spring means “new beginnings”. According to Cheng, the festival started from the legend of “Nian”, a savage creature that lived beneath the sea. The Chinese believed that Nian would jump out of the water and attack villages, devouring everything along its way. Villagers then hung bright red paper on their doors and lit firecrackers to scare the monster away. Until now, the Chinese believe that bright colors and firecrackers are effective ways to drive away evil spirits. Cheng also said that the Dragon Dance has been a significant part of the event since dragon symbolizes “power.” Ivy Ng of the Hotel Supreme demonstrated how the proper preparations of the Chinese tikoy, a traditional New Year food that is believed to make those who partake of it grow. The grand parade on January 27 will start with a pair of 70 foot-long male and female dragons for the Dragon Dance. The parade will begin at 3:30 p.m., from the Casa Vallejo and will end at the Melvin Jones Grandstand where fireworks display will follow. Various establishments will also join the parade. Candies, coins, Ang Pao, ponkan and the famous “tikoy” will be shared with the parade spectators.# Katherine del Rosario/UP intern for NORDIS, with reports from Ramon Dacawi/PIO Post your comments, reactions to this article
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