"gung hay fat choy" - Happy New Year in Cantonese
"xin nian kuai le" - Happy New Year in Mandarin
Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 250, 35mm f2, 1/60 sec
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The Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar and begins on the first day of the Chinese calendar, which usually falls in February and runs for 15 days.
Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/200 sec
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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/160 sec
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Chinese people first came to Australia in large numbers during the Gold Rush in the 1850-60s at that time 1/3 of the miners were Chinese. Many Chinese Australian families can trace their settlement in Australia to that time in towns like Ballarat and Bendigo in Victoria. Sydney and Melbourne have China towns, Dixon Street in Sydney, and Little Bourke Street in Melbourne where you find many of the best Chinese restaurants, Chinese grocery stores and other small businesses.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 720, 35mm f8, 1/60 sec
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The People's Republic of China follows the Gregorian calendar for its day to day business but the dates of the Chinese New Year and other important festivals are determined by the Chinese calendar which is thought to have been invented by Emperor Huangdi about 3000 years BC.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 250, 105mm f2.8, 1/60 sec
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Below is a street presentation of the Chinese Zodiac. The Chinese lunar year is divided into 12 months of 29 or 30 days and years are arranged in major cycles of 60 years, with the calendar is adjusted to the length of the solar year by the addition of extra months at regular intervals. Each successive year is named after one of 12 animals, and these 12-year cycles are continuously repeated. According to the Chinese zodiac, you take on the characteristics of the animal associated with the year of your birth.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 400, 78mm f2.8, 1/60 sec
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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 800, 11mm f2.8, 1/160 sec
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Crackers are let off to scare away the previous year's misfortune. There was lots of demonstrations and activities to keep visitors occupied.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 800, 90mm f2.8, 1/60 sec
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Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 720, 70mm f2.8, 1/60 sec
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With the clash of cymbals and gongs lions and dragons dance into each business for good luck.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 360, 35mm f2, 1/60 sec
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Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 220, 86mm f2.8, 1/60 sec
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During the Chinese New Year celebrations people are given red Lai See envelopes that contain good luck money wrapped in the red envelopes
Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 200, 35mm f2, 1/250 sec
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Nikon D300, Nikkor 35mm f2 @ ISO 250, 35mm f2, 1/60 sec
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The colour red represents happiness and joy. If you wear red clothes, you bring more happiness and joy to the people around you.
The fifteenth day of the New Year is celebrated with the Lantern Festival, and families walk the street carrying lighted lanterns. Traditional Chinese paper lanterns are red and tend to be oval in shape. Those lanterns, used on the fifteenth day of the Chinese New Year for the Lantern Festival, are bright, colourful, and in many different sizes and shapes.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 @ ISO 200, 116mm f2.8, 1/100 sec
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