The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it's been called since the 20th century, remains the most important social and economic holiday in China. Originally tied to the lunar-solar Chinese calendar, the holiday was a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It was also a time to bring family together for feasting. Several explanations are hanging around. All agree, however, that the word Nian, which in modern Chinese solely means "year", was originally the name of a monster beast that started to prey on people the night before the beginning of a new year.
Chinese New Year is indeed a series of celebration that involves a number of rituals. The first ritual observed in the celebration is spring-cleaning, which is giving a refreshing change to the home by making it clean. This is accompanied by worshipping the kitchen god, paying homage to the ancestors and merrymaking with the near and dear ones.
Chinese New Year is also an occasion to witness some extraordinary display of fireworks. It is believed that bursting of crackers can chase away the mythical monster, Nian, which once terrorized the people of China. Lion dance is also one of the most revered traditions of the festivities.
On the eve of the Chinese New Year, a combined family dinner is served in 
the brightly lit houses. Food in some of the cases also holds significant meanings for the Chinese.The end of the 15-day celebration is marked by the ‘Lantern Festival1. Lighting of colourful lanterns in the houses and eating of traditional rice preparation are the main rituals of this day. The day is also marked by traditional folk songs, dance and lantern shows.
No matter what the festivities or rituals are followed, the core message that the Chinese New Year festival carries is that of peace, prosperity, happiness and brotherhood. Every traditional Chinese household should also have live blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth. The Chinese firmly believe that without flowers, there would be no formation of any fruits. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to have flowers and floral decorations.
The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away. After New Year's Day, the floors may be swept. Beginning at the door, the dust and rubbish are swept to the middle of the parlor, then placed in the corners and not taken or thrown out until the fifth day. At no time should the rubbish in the corners be trampled upon. In sweeping, there is a superstition that if you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of the family away. Also, to sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away the good fortune of the family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out, then no harm will follow. All dirt and rubbish must be taken out the back door.
Shooting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the New Year. On the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, every door in the house, and even windows, have to be open to allow the old year to go out.
This are few information that I get from my chinese neighbours and friends.Its really interesting to know futher about Chinese New Year festival.Come let us join our chinese friends to celebrate this mindblowing festival....
Ben 10 is an 
