The Chinese New Year is the most popular of the Chinese holidays and lasts fifteen days. Firecrackers and noisemakers are used to chase away evil spirits. The dragon and lion will dance in the streets during the famous parades that happen in China and throughout China Towns across the country. People will don red clothing and hand out red envelopes with lucky money to children. Also, in the name of luck, pairs of tangerines are often given out. I say pairs, because odd numbers are deemed unlucky. The event is capped off by a beautiful lantern festival.
What stands out for me, though is what happens on the tenth day. It is then that the mice marry off their daughters. Mice are viewed as harmful creatures in Chinese folklore so on this night, people will go to bed early and avoid opening cupboards as not to disturb the mice. Then, these mice will marry off their daughters to ensure peace and luck for the coming year.
Is no one else concerned for the people living with mice in their cupboards beside me?