Chinese New Year - Year of the Dog - Ideal Homes International

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Chinese New Year - Year of the Dog

February 16, 2018

This Chinese new year marks the start of the year of the Dog with key colours red and green - may be a sign to head to Portugal! Portuguese relations with China route back to the 16th century, relations these days continue to be strong. Over the past few years Portugal has received growing interest from Chinese property investors taking advantage of Portugal's Golden Visa programme.

February certainly seems to be the month of colourful celebrations. After just getting back to normal following the Carnaval festivities, now we find ourselves preparing for more!

In question today, is a celebration that is easily considered the largest and most celebrated annual event in the world... The Chinese New Year. Not just celebrated by the Chinese people, but many of its geographical neighbors, including: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Roughly 3 billion people celebrate the holiday annually.

Unlike the western version, the Chinese New Year doesn't always fall on the first day of the first calendar month but falls on the day of the first new moon between the 21st of January and the 20th of February, with different types of celebrations occuring up until the Lantern Festival 15 days later.

The Chinese Zodiac consists of a 12 year cycle with every year represented by one of 12 different animals and five different elements. This Chinese new year marks the start of the year of the Dog with key colours red and green - may be a sign to head to Portugal!

Portuguese relations with China route back to the 16th century and despite some turbulent times, relations these days continue to be strong. Over the past few years Portugal has received growing interest from Chinese property investors taking advantage of Portugal's Golden Visa programme increasingly popular with investors as a way of gaining citizenship in Portugal. The scheme involves making a property investment in Portugal of 350 thousand euros plus. This in turn grants permanent residency and worker entitlements in all Schengen countries.

The Portuguese capital of Lisbon already has a sizable chinese community, who no doubt will be celebrating the new year in the traditional way right here in Portugal despite being such a long way from China. The Portuguese are very welcoming of other culures and enjoy getting in on celebrations, especially involving food. Macanese food (Macau/Portuguese), also provides for a delicous combinations of the two counties so if you haven't experienced this culture, don't miss out you may be deligthfuly suprised.

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