Shanghaied Bob: Other fun facts about Chinese New Year

Several days before the new year the house is thoroughly cleaned, it is said that you need to sweep out the last year and welcome in the new year.

It is estimated that a sixth of the world celebrates Chinese New Year.

On CNY eve fireworks are set off all over the Shanghai and it is believed to be the biggest non organized display on the planet.

This year starts the year of the snake, the snake has a mixed reputation in China, it is associated with wisdom, beauty and intelligence but also pride and anger.

This year on the annual New Year's Eve gala on TV, the producers were order to make the show a more low-key affair, in the wake of the new leadership's recent crackdown on corruption and official extravagance.

Seeing RED - The color red and other bright colors is commonly worn throughout the CNY. It was once believed that red could scare away evil spirits and bad fortune. Today it represents prosperity, fortune and good luck, and it shows happiness.

Wearing new clothes from head to toe, symbolizes a new beginning in the new year.

This is my 50th post! Over the past 7 months the blog has seen over 1400 page views, last month there was 168 page views. It has been fun to do. It has forced me to take lots of pictures and do a lot of research. The pictures has helped in remembering the many things we have been lucky enough to see and do and the research has helped me to better understand another part of the world and its people. All is good.

I would like to thank everyone for visiting. I am very happy that I started it and I hope you have enjoyed looking at it. Below are some misc. pictures of CNY.