Mask and Chinese Culture

Even in this day and age Chinese Masks are used within two main elements of Chinese culture. The New Year masks which are worn by Chinese people to welcome the new year throughout the world. And the Opera masks which are painted and drawn on the faces of the actors and singers and are used to depict the traits and characteristics of the role each actor is playing.

Chinese New Years masks are not seen at any other time of the year. The exciting and extravagant Chinese New Year can last for a week or longer and ends with the Yuanxiao which is a lantern festival. The masks used depict the moods and emotion of enjoyment and happiness which tie in with the ceremonies and festival. Chinese people typically will buy presents, buy new clothes and cook expensive meals for the new year period. Throughout this period many works of art and crafts like the Chinese masks in their rich and vivid colors are worn and displayed to show the nature of the festivity.

Chinese Masks are made up of numerous materials like stones and metals, leather and cloth, paper and grass and more. They are then painted in different color themes and designs. Some masks may represent animal or human characteristics like the lion or the dragon. Red is also a popular color, thought to bring prosperity and many red masks will be seen during the celebrations.

Chinese New Year is based in lore of deities, spirits, good and evil beings and animal ancestors. Masks commonly depict these characteristics and powers and are held in high esteem during the ceremonies and dances involved in the Chinese New Year.

The dragon holds special significance at new years and is a bringer of good luck and fortune, especially for farming and harvesting and is also the bringer of rain. The New Years celebrations mark the beginning of the planting and farming seasons in China, and so the two tie closely together.

The dragon mask is a key symbol of fortune and prosperity for the New Year. The dragon mask is an important part of Chinese heritage and specifically New Year parades. While the dragon mask may not hold the same importance that it did during ancient times, no present day New Years parade is without it.

The dragon mask began as this kind of symbol, but through the centuries the role of the mask in Chinese society has changed. The mask is no longer seen as such an important part of agricultural prosperity today, but it is still a very important symbol to the Chinese people.

The dragon masks used during parades are commonly very complex and elaborate with vivid colors, usually in gold, red and blue with fur and feathers headed by the large dragon mask which usually features bright red. A traditional dragon mask will typically have either a wide rounded mouth or a yawning jaw. The person at the head of the dragon dance procession will wear the mask or hold it above his or her head as the dragon dances and snakes along through the streets.

The other type of masks in Chinese culture are the modern Chinese Opera masks which are either painted on or are worn as thin cloth masks. The tradition of facial make up started from totems created centuries ago times which later became facial paintings. Basic depictions of painted faces were discovered in tomb murals during the Song dynasty. Later this evolved and as the paints improved, along with the skills of the painters and crafters and the tools they used the masks evolved to don full color themes and designs and came to depict different artistic roles, different emotions and different moods.

Frequently used facial make ups include yellow which represents cruelty, Silver and Gold which are typically used to represent gods and demons and for spirits and ghosts, blue which is vigor and valor and green which depicts justice and chivalry. These color themes have remained the same for ages and were handed down and refined throughout the ages of Chinese art, culture and history.

In the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do. Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_Bluestone

Get Information about New Year 2010

New Year is fast approaching and all of us must be wondering on how we can make our forthcoming days all the more happier and blissful. Making new resolutions, planning for the new year party, purchasing New Year gifts etc consume most of our days prior to the occasion. Despite the yellow leaves, chilly mornings and cool winds breezing through, every heart holds warmth of mirth and enthusiasm in it. Irrelevant of cast, creed, religion and region people celebrate New Year in the most grand manner. The bygone year is bidden farewell to and the new year is embraced with arms wide open.

New Year History :

A secular festival like New Year has a very ancient historic past attached to it. One of the earliest New Year celebrations was recorded in Mesopotamia in around 2000 B.C. But, it is considered that the celebrations of that New Year took place in the month of Spring on the first New Moon night. Whereas, a similar kind of celebration took place in Egypt and Persia on the Equinox, which falls in the month of winter season. The trend continued for many subsequent years until in around 150 B.C Romans fixed 1st January as the date to commence the cycle of the Gregorian New Year. The great King Julius Caesar made this attempt, which is followed till date. Thus, it is one of the old pagan festivals in the world.

New Year Traditions & Celebrations : However, there are many different traditions of celebrating New Year in different countries, yet the fervor and the intensity remains almost same all over. While some countries like United States of America and France hold parades in order to eulogize the occasion. While Chinese and Spanish people like to have a family dinner and then going out for celebrations, natives of Brazil enjoy New Year jubilations at street with colorful props. Making loud noises, having festive food and singing and dancing on jolly tunes is certainly the highlight of the day in any country across the world.

New Year Day Gifts :

New Year day gifts are an expression of wishing all luck and happiness in the upcoming year. There is no scarcity of New Year gifts in the market. Make this New Year all the more special with exquisite decorative items, floral gifts, motivational gifts, good luck charm gifts and even ready to give New Year gift baskets. To lend to your gift a special, personalized feel add a New Year Day card to it. Enticing range of greeting cards are available at a gift shop near you. You can also send free New Year greetings via internet as many websites offer such a facility.

New Year 2010 :

This time, New Year 2010 is going to fall on Thursday taking along a bundle of joy and energy so that we are full on stock for the rest of the year. There is a beautiful aura set on 31st December, that is the New Year Eve of every year. As soon as the right time would come, balloons will be released in the air, screaming sounds will be heard and firecracker show will be gracing the sky. Let us resolute ourselves to sustain the same happiness throughout the year.

in the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do

Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source : http://www.articlesbase.com/holidays-articles/get-complete-information-about-new-year-2010-1633263.html

Bingo Card Game At The Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, also known as "Spring Festival", is the most important of traditional Chinese holidays. The holiday is widely celebrated in China itself, and throughout East Asia. Additionally, increasingly Chinese New Year is increasingly marked in the West, both within the Chinese community, and by people interested in Chinese culture and traditions.

The traditional Chinese calendar is lunisolar (incorporating both elements of lunar and solar cycles to calculate dates), consequently the date of Chinese New Year varies from year to year when translated into the Western Gregorian calendar. Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the first lunar month of the Chinese calendar, and continues until the 15th of that month, which is known as the "Lantern festival". In the Gregorian calendar, that equates to a 15 day period beginning sometime between January 21st and February 20th.

There are a variety of traditions associated with Chinese New Year. These include the wearing of new clothes, displaying decorations (especially red decorations), the giving of red envelopes (containing money) by elders to children and juniors, and visits to relatives and friends ("new-year visits"). Additionally, many overseas Chinese travel home to have reunion dinners with their families on Chinese New Year's Eve.

With so many gatherings and families and friends, Chinese New Year is also an opportunity for performing group activities. Additionally, with the increasing prominence of Chinese New Year in the West, the occasion is also an excellent opportunity for teachers to introduce their students to Chinese culture through classroom activities. Whether with friends, family, or in the classroom, one such activity that is worth considering is Chinese New Year bingo.

Bingo is a fun game, that virtually everybody knows how to play. However, if somebody doesn't know how to play, there's no reason to worry - anybody can learn the game in just a few minutes. Of course, if you're playing bingo at Chinese New Year, it's more fun if you can get into the spirit of things by using bingo cards printed with items related to Chinese New Year, rather than using traditional numbered bingo cards. The easiest way to get such special bingo cards is to print them using your computer - you can download some bingo card maker software and print as many as you want. The coolest thing is that once you have the software, you can use it each year, or to print specially themed bingo cards for other events, occasions and holidays.

in the new year there is now a regular on the popular modern society do

Traditionally red packets are also handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Chinese new year parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

Giving Chinese new year parcel to employees prior to the New Year is also a good idea. This can be either a gift or a bonus. If it is as a gift, the money should be just right for a gift. If as a bonus, you may enclose a check in the parcel gift and hand it out in an office.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sunil_Tann