China extends Lunar New Year holiday by 3 days to next Sunday in effort to contain virus spread

China extends Lunar New Year holiday by 3 days to next Sunday in effort to contain virus spre. 

Chinese New Year holiday period, being disrupted this year by outbreak of a viral illness, has evolved over more than 3,000 years to become most important of China’s tritional festivals.

As celebrated in China and in many or places where its kwn as Lunar New Year, it is largely a secular holiday, yet it includes rituals and tritions that derive from Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, as well as from ancient myths and folk religions.

One of popular versions of its origin involves an elderly wise man who used firecrackers and red paper to scare away a menacing mythical beast. Red lanterns and gifts of money in red envelopes are ubiquitous during holiday, as are dragon dances, ar legendary way to chase off evil spirits.