Chinese New Year 2014: Google Doodle marks the Year of the Horse

[ChinaToday]

Chinese New Year, heralding the start of the Year of the Horse, has been celebrated with a Google Doodle

The festivities start on the first day of the lunar month Photo: GOOGLE

By Alice Philipson

10:24AM GMT 30 Jan 2014

8 Comments


Chinese New Year, which in 2014 marks the start of the Year of the Horse, has been celebrated with a Google Doodle.

The doodle shows a smiling girl with brown hair moving backwards and forwards on a wooden rocking horse.

Next to her, a boy is seen holding Chinese lanterns and tinsel ahead of the festivities.

Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. Traditionally, it celebrates the start of the season of ploughing and sowing and the arrival of new life.

The festivities start on the first day of the lunar month – this year on Friday January 31 – and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest.


In London, which will see the biggest celebrations outside of Asia, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to descend on the West End to mark the occasion.

A colourful New Year’s Parade will pass along Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue before reaching Chinatown. Acrobats, traditional dancers and singers visiting from China are expected to take part in an official opening ceremony in Trafalgar Square.

At Chinese New Year, people traditionally wear red clothes and give children so-called lucky money concealed in red envelopes.

Last year was the Year of the Snake

Chinese New Year 2014: Google Doodle marks the Year of the Horse - Telegraph

Kung hey fat choy

 

[StarCraft_ZT]

Happy the new year of horse!

 

[Indo-guy]

Guang Xi Fa Cai

Happy New Year to Chinese Friends ....

 

[Jade]

Happy New Year

 

[naveen mishra]

 

[ChinaToday]

Chinese New Year 2014: London celebrations

Chinese New Year 2014 falls on January 31 but London celebrates the Year of the Horse on February 2. Find out details about what you can expect here.

Chinese New Year celebrations in Trafalgar Square Photo: Grant Pritchard


By John O'Ceallaigh

11:22AM GMT 29 Jan 2014

16 Comments


Chinese New Year takes place this year on Friday January 31, but for London the main Chinese New Year celebrations, marking the Year of the Horse, take place on Sunday February 2.

As usual, London’s Chinese New Year celebrations are set to be the biggest outside of Asia and hundreds of thousands of people are expected to descend on the West End to mark the occasion.

Events begin at 10am, with a colourful New Year’s Parade that passes along Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue before reaching Chinatown. An official opening ceremony at midday in Trafalgar Square will then be followed by various performances. Expect to see acrobatics, traditional dance, theatre and song recitals by artists visiting from China especially for the occasion. A second stage on Shaftesbury Avenue will provide a platform to local performers and up-and-coming acts.

Beyond the main stages there’ll be plenty to see and do throughout Chinatown, with craft stalls and food stands in operation during the day and the area’s numerous restaurants set to be especially lively. The Chinese Community Centre will host a more intimate festival in Horse & Dophin Yard, featuring displays of traditional Chinese arts including calligraphy, drumming and dancing, and martial arts. All activities forming part of the official celebrations are free to attend and, although the programme concludes at 6pm, there should events taking place in Chinatown until later that evening.

Other options:
In addition to the official celebrations, Londoners can mark the arrival of the Year of the Horse at various locations throughout the city.

On the evening of Thursday January 30, the London Eye will be lit red and gold in honour of the occasion and there will be performances and giveaways at the site from 5.30pm on the same day.

Michelin-starred dim sum tea-house Yauatcha has collaborated with Harvey Nichols to launch a limited-edition menu for the festive period and will host a dragon dance within the restaurant itself on February 2.

In the Shard, Hutong is celebrating its first Chinese New Year by offering a “Double Happiness” menu. Costing £88, it will feature traditional Chinese dishes and will be complemented by a performance from a traditional lion dance troupe.

The National Maritime Museum will celebrate the occasion with a day of free workshops, performances and traditional lion dance at its site on February 15.

On February 1, Madame Tussauds also celebrates the occasion. Those willing to brave the attraction's almost interminable queues will be treated to traditional lion dance performances at regular intervals and the attraction will be feature customary decorations and music. The building itself will be lit in red that evening.

Discover more:
For more on what to do in London and information on the capital’s best restaurants, bars, hotels and attractions, see our complete London city break guide. Our West End guide includes detailed recommendations about the best venues in Soho and the surrounding areas.
Should the event inspire you to learn more about China, you can see our essential guide to the country here. You can see our complete Hong Kong destination guide here.

For other things to do on holidays in London over the Chinese New Year weekend, see our guides to London’s best restaurants, London’s best afternoon teas, London’s best brunches and 100 Things to do in London.

Chinese New Year 2014: London celebrations - Telegraph

 

[Götterdämmerung]

Xinnian Kuaile - Happy New Year!