Happy Chinese New Year

On behalf of District 51 and all our officers, we would like to extend our personal greetings to all our Chinese Toastmasters members around Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the world for a Happy `Gong Xi Fa Cai'. ~ A very Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year this coming February 14th 2010 which coincides with Valentine's day!

As this is a special and joyous moment to celebrate togetherness with your loved ones and friends, we wish you all roaring success in every journey you take and prosperity in the year ahead and beyond.

To everyone else in the district, keep well and thank you for working diligently on your distinguished club program.

Let's achieve your club goals before the term ends June 30th 2010.

Best regards,

Richard Chong @ Ritchie

Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade. The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-year cycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year. 

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors. The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.