Find out about the traditional and modern ways of greeting each other on the event of the Chinese New Year.

Are you getting a lot of Guo Nian Hao from people as you near China in the beginning of the year? It simply means Happy New Year in Chinese language. You will also receive a number of New Year greetings in February in China as conventional Chinese New Year falls in the beginning of February which is absolutely different from western concept and comes as a surprise to many.

The difference in date concerning New Years is all because Chinese follow lunar calendar. Their New Year depends on the moon cycle rather than the date like 1st of January. The Chinese people celebrate their New Year in a conventional manner where they follow a lot of old customs and it's a time for joyful celebrations.

Since the beginning of the lunar year is an important occasion you will observe everybody to be greeting each other irrespective of whether they know the person or not. Go to any market place and you will have the whole staff wishing you Guo Nian Hao. In fact this is the voice of the nation during the festive season.

Traditionally and otherwise the Guo Nian Hao greeting is used to wish everyone for five days after the beginning of lunar year. After five days you are not supposed to wish a New Year greeting according to the tradition. There are other words which are also used to wish New Year along with Guo Nian Hao.

The New Year for Chinese is a moment when people hope and pray for abundance in future for everybody including themselves for the rest of the year. The Chinese people demonstrate their happiness by using terms like Hokkien Keong hee huat chye, Gonxi Facai for best wishes and success in life to others.

Another most important thing in Chinese society is a good harvest so the traditional Chinese greeting include some terms to wish plentiful crops in the New Year as a part of Chinese traditional greeting.

The red envelope is also considered to be a form of New Year greetings although it is not in verbal form. It is an envelope with a certain amount of money that is handed over to children on New Year's Eve in order to ward of any evil for the coming year.

Changing times have given rise to new traditions with regards to Chinese New Year greetings. Every one has their personal ways of greeting each other. The use of greeting cards has flourished during recent years although this practice has never been part of the ancient tradition.

With the coming of Internet wishing New Year for people of China has become very easy by sending e-cards. There are huge fireworks shows held for the common people by the government during New Year.