You have no doubt heard of “Chinese New Year” but do you actually know what it is?  Chinese New Year is the most significant and longest holiday in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. This important holiday originated centuries ago and is celebrated in countries with significant Chinese populations. According to ancient Mythology a nasty mythical creature called the Nien would come and consume crops, livestock and even people on the first day of the New Year.  To prevent this from happening the villages would leave food outside their front doors believing the Nien would eat the food and leave their families, crops and animals alone. The colour red was also believed to scare the creature away.

Today this festival involves every family cleaning their house from top to bottom to sweep away ill fortune and make way for good luck. The colour red features throughout the celebrations with red paper decorating doors and windows to symbolize longevity, happiness and financial prosperity. At the beginning of Chinese New Year families will come together for a magnificent feast, wishing each other pace and happiness and putting aside all grudges. The night always ends with a very noisy and colourful display of firecrackers. Children receive money in red paper envelopes and wish their parents a healthy and happy New Year.

Chinese New Year begins with the New Moon on the first day of the Chinese New Year and continues for 15 days finishing on the full moon. The final day is the Lantern Festival, celebrated with magnificent lantern displays with children carrying lanterns in a parade.
According to the Chinese calendar 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. Chinese tradition believes the rabbit will bring a year where you can calm your nerves and catch your breath with a focus on family, a peaceful lifestyle and diplomacy.

During the Chinese New Year period, workers that have moved to the cities to live in dormitory style accommodation and work for a year take the time to head to their rural homes.  This massive seasonal labour movement leads to the complete shutdown of many factories and the clothing and promotions industry is particularly hard hit with 3-4 weeks added to the typical production time of offshore orders.

The deadline for placing orders for delivery prior to the Chinese New Year passes in early January, at which time your offshore orders will be delayed by 3-4 weeks.