The start of the lunar year begins in February, and millions of people across the world will be gathering with family to get out the firecrackers and celebrate Chinese New Year . Today denotes the beginning of the Year of the Pig, defined by the Chinese zodiac cycle. The day is traditionally marked with the giving of gifts and celebrations with family, as well as looking to what the sign of the Pig will mean for the year ahead. Here's everything you need to know about Chinese New Year. When is Chinese New Year and why does the date change every year? The Year of the Pig begins on Tuesday February 5, 2019. Celebrations are expected to last until February 19. Chinese New Year takes place on a different date every year, because it is based on the lunar calendar. In this calendar a month is two days shorter than in the solar calendar so to make up for it an extra month is added every few years. The lunar calendar means the celebration always falls on a different date - unlike the … [Read more...] about How to celebrate Chinese New Year
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New Year’s Eve celebrations: Watch the fireworks as London joins world in welcoming 2019
London has welcomed 2019 with a dazzling firework display and the chimes of Big Ben. As the new year dawns you can catch up on all the celebrations from the UK, and around the world, with our live stream of all the best firework displays. Below we will be checking in with colour and pictures from all the big displays in the major cities. Happy New Year! London celebrates as Big Ben awakes The words "London is open" rang in the new year as the capital welcomed 2019 with a dazzling riverside fireworks display. The phrase was spoken in seven languages around two minutes past midnight as the city skyline filled with lights in the largest annual display in Europe. A soundtrack featuring Europe's finest musical artists celebrated the diversity of the capital, after Big Ben, silent for much of 2018 due to renovations, chimed once more. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the sold-out display would show Europe that the capital will remain "open-minded" and "outward … [Read more...] about New Year’s Eve celebrations: Watch the fireworks as London joins world in welcoming 2019
New Year’s Eve around the world
The year 2019 is making its debut. Though midnight is still many hours away in the U.S., billions of people around the globe are already ringing in the new year, bidding farewell to 2018 and welcoming 2019 with fireworks, prayer services and other festivities.Here's a look at how people are celebrating New Year's 2019. Fireworks in the Philippines Dozens of people have been injured by firecrackers ahead of New Year's Eve, when many across the Philippines set off powerful firecrackers in one of Asia's most violent celebrations despite a government scare campaign and threats of arrests.The Department of Health said it has recorded more than 50 firecracker-caused injuries in the last 10 days, which is expected to increase overnight when Filipinos usher in 2019 with a bang. Although still a concern, the figure is significantly lower than a year ago, partly because fewer Filipinos have purchased firecrackers due to hard economic times.Officials have urged centralized fireworks displays to … [Read more...] about New Year’s Eve around the world
African swine fever hits Chinese pork industry in run-up to New Year
A deadly and highly contagious virus is threatening pork production in China in the run-up to Chinese New Year, when demand for the country’s most commonly eaten meat is at its highest level. Over the past three months, African swine fever has spread to 12 Chinese provinces, an area home to more than half the country’s pig population. The virus, passed through contaminated feed or exposure to infected animals, has a near-100% fatality rate and there is no vaccine. On Monday, officials identified two new cases in the south, the first in that region. About 70,000 pigs have been culled so far to prevent the spread of the virus, according to the ministry of agriculture, and much of the country’s pig-producing provinces are on lockdown. The agriculture ministry said on Wednesday that it would ban the feeding of kitchen waste to pigs after linking the practice to the majority of the early cases. Beijing has not yet said how the diseaseentered the country, but the ministry … [Read more...] about African swine fever hits Chinese pork industry in run-up to New Year
Loving tributes paid to young mum who was found murdered on New Year’s Day
PUBLISHED: 15:50 08 January 2010 | UPDATED: 09:27 02 June 2010 Tributes have been paid to mother-of-four Dolly Gregory, 32. TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Wisbech woman who was found murdered on New Year s Day. Mother-of-four Dolly Gregory, 32, who was born in Wisbech will be remembered as wonderful mum and a fun-loving, caring woman by her family and friends. She was fou TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Wisbech woman who was found murdered on New Year's Day.Mother-of-four Dolly Gregory, 32, who was born in Wisbech will be remembered as wonderful mum and a fun-loving, caring woman by her family and friends.She was found with serious head injuries at around 4.30am at her home in Welland Court, Grantham.She was pronounced dead at the scene and a 38-year-old man was taken to hospital with series head injuries he remains there under police guard.Ms Gregory was born in the Wisbech area and her parents still … [Read more...] about Loving tributes paid to young mum who was found murdered on New Year’s Day