Chinese New Year 2012: Year of Dragon Welcomed by Texting and Weibo

No Chinese festival can compare with the Lunar New Year. The Chinese new year celebrations officially began on Monday and millions of Chinese worldwide welcomed the year of the dragon by kicking off the Spring Festival, which will continue for about two weeks until the Lantern Festival on February 6.

In ancient times, Chinese people always used the lunar calendar calculate important occasions and welcome the new year. Accordingly, the first day on the traditional calendar is regarded as the most important day.

Currently, Chinese people around the world are celebrating by welcoming the Year of the Dragon. The fabled animal has becomes a symbol of good fortune and majestic power in the Eastern culture. The dragon is even thought as a divine beast.

In the pictures, the Dragon is usually depicted as having the head of an ox or donkey, eyes of a shrimp, horns of a deer, body of a serpent covered with fish scales, and a feet of a phoenix. Moreover, it always clutches a pearl, which is meant to symbolize its supernatural powers.

People, who are born in the Year of the Dragon, are thought to have attractive characteristics such as innovative thoughts, confidence, courage, passion, and more.

During the Spring Festival, no matter what happens, every single person will try his best to go home for a family reunion. On New Year's Eve, every family was eating dinner together, especially the traditional dumplings. They also watch the Spring Festival Gala and greet each other.

However, the traditional way of celebrating the Chinese New Year is now slowly dying because of technological advancements. Instead of visiting families or friends, people these days prefer texting each other or leaving messages on social network sites.

For instance, Weibo (the equivalent of Twitter in China) have become the new way to celebrate the new year and greet family members and friends.

Texting has also become a popular method of greeting each other, These days, it's not surprising to see the Chinese greet each other with short, simple messages such as Best wishes for the holidays and happiness throughout the New Year, Good luck and great success in the coming New Year, May you be blessed with good fortune, etc.

How are you celebrating the Chinese New Year? Leave your comments below.