Celebrate Chinese New Year in Cedar Grove

Time to break out your lanterns, red clothing and best nian gao recipe—Chinese New Year begins on Sunday, Feb. 10.

If you are looking to celebrate 2013, the Chinese Year of the Snake, here are some places to go in Cedar Grove:

The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation in Cedar Grove will be holding a "Year-End and Lunar New Year Blessings Ceremony" on on Saturday, Feb. 2 from 2 to 4 p.m.

"The ceremony is held to express our sincere appreciation to Tzu Chi supporters and volunteers across the globe for their selfless dedication and continued support," the foundation said. "We will also review the efforts and progress made in 2012 by Tzu Chi in its missions of Charity, Medicine, Education and Humanistic Culture."

Tzu Chi is located at 150 Commerce Road in Cedar Grove.

"The theme for this year’s blessings ceremony is 'May simple living elevate your compassion; may true kindness nurture your wisdom and love,'" they said.

Due to the track of the new moon, the 2013 Chinese New Year begins on Feb. 10. The holiday is celebrated at the start of the first month of the Chinese calendar, which also uses lunar and solar calendar systems.

The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival (marking the end of winter and welcoming the spring), is the most important social and economic holiday in China, according to History.com.

It is a time to honor household and heavenly deities and ancestors, and to bring together family for feasting.

On the fifth day of the Chinese New Year, businesses often light firecrackers in the belief it will bring prosperity and good fortune. The 15th day of the 15-day holiday includes The Lantern Festival and marks the end of the celebration.

Symbols for Chinese New Year include red envelopes filled with money, given to children and unmarried adults with no job. The red color is for good luck and abundance. And the dragon, which is used in many Chinese celebrations, is often present in dancing performances on the 15th day of the New Year.

 新年快樂 (Happy New Year!)