14 Januari 2010

History of Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year history is rich and diverse. This year the Chinese New Year is on February 8th.The Chinese New Year is very similar to the Western one, wrapped in traditions and rituals. The history of the Chinese New Year is so old that its origins are lost in the mists of time. It is popularly recognized as the Spring Festival and celebrations last 15 days.It is said that in ancient times, the feudal rulers placed great importance on Chinese New Year celebrations and organized grand ceremonies to mark this event.

Preparations tend to begin a month from the date of the Chinese New Year as people start buying presents, decoration materials, food and clothing. A huge clean-up gets underway days before the New Year , when Chinese houses are cleaned from top to bottom, to sweep away any traces of bad luck, and doors and windowpanes are given a new coat of paint, usually red. The doors and windows are then decorated with paper cuts and couplets with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity printed on them.

In the history it's mentioned that Chinese peasants eagerly wait for this day because it is on this day that the kitchen God is supposed to depart away to the lord of heaven (known as to the Jade Emperor) to report about the family. During his absence-that is, the period in which He leaves the kitchen only to return in the New Year -the family members clean up the house and make a fresh start to welcome the God as well as the new promising year.

Historically speaking, the Chinese New Year Day has practically been regarded as the only day of the year when China's hard-working peasants allowed themselves to rest.

The eve of the Chinese New Year is perhaps the most exciting part of the event in the history of time, as anticipation creeps in. Here, traditions and rituals are very carefully observed in everything from food to clothing. Dinner is usually a feast of seafood and dumplings, signifying different good wishes. Delicacies include prawns, for liveliness and happiness, dried oysters (or ho xi), for all things good, raw fish salad or yu sheng to bring good luck and prosperity.

It's usual to wear something red as this color is meant to ward off evil spirits - but black and white are out, as these are associated with mourning. After dinner, the family sit up for the night playing cards, board games or watching TV programmes dedicated to the occasion. At midnight, fireworks to mark the Chinese New Year welcome light up the sky.

On the Chinese New Year day itself in history , an ancient custom called Hong Bao, meaning Red Packet, takes place. This involves married couples giving children and unmarried adults money in red envelopes. Then the family begins to wish greetings from door to door, first to their relatives and then their neighbours. Like the Western saying "let bygones be bygones," at Chinese New Year , grudges are very easily cast aside.

The end of the New Year is marked by the Festival of Lanterns, which is a celebration with singing, dancing and lantern shows.

Nowadays giving red packets as a bonus at the year-end by employers becomes popular and Imlek Parcel is also a tradition of giving to business associates or relatives.

chinese new year tradition in the office environment also marked by Giving Imlek 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.

Although celebrations of the Chinese New Year vary, the underlying message is one of peace and happiness for family members and friends.

http://www.123chinesenewyear.com/chinesenewyear/history/

The Meaning of Red Roses on Valentines Day

Red roses on Valentines Day are pretty common. People from all over the world spend millions of roses every year on the special day. This is to show that there is a deeper meaning when it comes to different flowers and more so red roses. There are people who are aware of the meaning of red roses on Valentines Day while others have no clue. It is good for all people not to be ignorant and to know exactly what the day is all about. When it comes to red roses, they communicate a language that is global; it does not need much explanation. When you are preparing to spend that day, keep in mind to judge fairly the kind of roses you receive. If you are on the giving end, you will have to think of the right message to communicate and ensure that you communicate effectively. Therefore, it is time to look for the meaning of red roses; and when they are offered on Valentines Day, it is good to prepare yourself for the flow of different emotions that are sure to come to you.

Red roses on Valentines Day are mainly sent to show fire, passion, desire, romance and all other words that may describe love. Red roses on Valentines Day really stand for the love that you share and it is vital to keep this is in mind. However, it is also vital to look at the various sources of the roses so as to understand the meaning. This is because you can receive red roses from a brother mother and so on. When you are not in a platonic relationship with someone who sends you red roses, it is good to really think of the thought behind the flowers. This is mainly so especially when you are not lovers but are embarking on starting something deep. It is vital to read all the signs that are brought about by such roses. There are people who are not in love but they go ahead to send roses that are red. This can be very misleading and in many cases, the girls will be very happy to be with a man who is willing to love them. However, when the men are not particularly looking to fall in love, they might give out signs just to have company on the special day. It is good to know both sides of the coin so that you can make out various feelings.

Red roses on Valentines Day pave the way to a heavenly experience. When you are in love, it is even more special. If you are wiling to love, it is good enough because it shows that you believe in love. It is good to have great plans that will guide you on how you can enjoy this day to the full. Red ones will always set a precious mood that will usher joy in many hearts of lovers. Love is about joy and there is no reason why you should not be open to experiencing all the joy you can possibly have. Discuss with your friends the different meanings of the roses and, you are surely going to get interesting insights to what many think.

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

Nationwide Same Day Shipping - Why You Need It

It is no longer possible to maintain a competitive edge in industry throughout the country unless you can offer them high quality and fast shipping. Now that larger retailers are beginning to take advantage of the faster shipping options that are out there, they can combine that offering with all their other advantages to obtain the largest share of the business that is available in any given industry. A New Mexico courier service, for example, could be used to provide same day shipping for you anywhere in the country, something that could give you the competitive edge that you need.

Same day shipping across the entire country is now possible. There are even some couriers which can sometimes make same day deliveries across the entire continent, barring any unforeseen customs holdups. This means that your customer will place the order in the morning, and you will request delivery immediately. Pickup usually has to be made before 10:00 or 11:00 AM to successfully complete the delivery within a single day, which is why it is so important that you place the order early.

The upside to same day delivery is that it lets you provide an immediate and emergency product supply even to customers that are all the way across the country. This provides you with an ability to greatly expand your target market and hopefully increase the profitability of your business. No one likes to wait for anything anymore, and using a same day courier even when not strictly necessary can go a long way to increasing your over customer satisfaction.

Everything about the way we do business today has made us in more of a hurry in all aspects of how we do business. Because we can fax a document, send so many files electronically, and fly across the country to have a meeting, we no longer have the patience to wait for products. Same day delivery service helps to meet that need for fast service that is rising so large in the public consciousness.

Companies like Amazon are now starting to offer same day delivery service to their customers. This shows that the desire for same day delivery is large enough that even the largest retailers in the world are beginning to take steps to offer this option to their customers. If you want to stay competitive with those larger companies, you too should be seeing how you can integrate same day delivery options into your business.

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