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