| Two years ago some Chinese friends of
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| | belief of celestial spirits flying about
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| mine took me to NTDTV's (New Tang Dynasty
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| | in the light of the first full moon.
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| TV) live Chinese New Year Spectacular. It
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| | Lanterns of many colors and shapes were
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| was a thrilling and enchanting music and
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| | lit during the night. Maquiong, who grew
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| dance performance, with traditional
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| | up in a town near the Yangzi River, said,
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| Chinese instruments and costumes
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| | "Some communities would organize a
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| faithfully recreated from old
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| | lantern market. Usually, my mom would
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| manuscripts, paintings and pottery. The
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| | take us to watch the activities. Later
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| dragons, drums and dancers all evoked the
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| | she'd cook another good dinner which
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| grandeur of China's great dynasties and
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| | included dumplings filled with syrup,
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| legends of remote history. Ancient
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| | which symbolizes harmony in the family
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| Chinese traditions speak of harmony
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| | and sweetness of life." She said that in
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| between heaven and earth. They say that
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| | recent years traditions like these have
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| humans were created by Gods. Culture as
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| | been changing in China. In big cities
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| well as moral and spiritual guidance were
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| | fireworks were forbidden, and people have
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| also imparted to humans by divine beings
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| | New Year's dinner at restaurants. Also,
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| during different times in history. When
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| | many people exchange new year greetings
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| humans respect the Tao, the "Divine Law
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| | by phone and don't visit each other so
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| or Way" and follow Heaven's order,
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| | much anymore. "But in my memories,"
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| society will be prosperous and peaceful.
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| | Maquiong said, "Chinese New Year always
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| Like most Westerners I knew next to
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| | means having a good time." "Traditional
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| nothing about the Chinese New Year. So I
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| | Chinese culture and spiritual traditions
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| asked my friends to tell me more and
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| | were destroyed and outlawed by the
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| share their favorite New Year's memories.
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| | Chinese Communist Party," said Jason, a
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| I learned that Chinese New Year is
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| | medical doctor. He said that the CCP
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| actually celebrated by almost a quarter
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| | smashed almost all the temples and burned
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| of the world's population in several
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| | the ancient manuscripts. Since coming to
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| Asian countries where it is the most
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| | power in the late 40s, they have changed
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| important holiday of the year. It follows
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| | history books and brainwashed generations
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| the Lunar calendar, and the date varies
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| | of Chinese with party culture, class
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| each year, depending on the moon's cycle.
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| | struggle and Marxist ideology. "Young
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| Several friends shared about fire works
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| | people know nothing about true Chinese
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| and favorite foods-dumplings were often
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| | history or the deeper values of our
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| mentioned-and various traditions. One is
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| | ancient traditions," Jason said. "NTDTV
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| to write poems or lucky phrases on red
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| | and its annual global Chinese New Year
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| paper to be pasted around every family's
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| | Shows are instrumental in promoting a
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| door. After breakfast there would be a
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| | rebirth of traditional Chinese culture.
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| round of visits. The first stop would be
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| | The performances are magnificent and full
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| at a local temple to burn incense and
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| | of nobility." The 2007 NTDTV New Year
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| honor the gods. Next came visits to
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| | Spectacular will be touring Atlanta,
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| relatives and friends. In many towns
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| | Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los
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| musicians paraded through streets to
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| | Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San
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| announce the arrival of spring. The
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| | Francisco, Washington, DC, plus major
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| Lantern Festival marks the end of the New
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| | cities in Canada, Europe and Asia.
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| Year season. It evolved from the ancient
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