Google Doodle fetes Chinese New Year

Beijing, Feb 3: The internet giant Google has been under the scanner of the Chinese Communist government for the search results that showed against its government and their leaders. But, the California based company made an attractive Google Doodle for its Chinese Google home page as the country celebrates Chinese New Year on Thursday, Feb 3.

Google painted a new Chinese New Year doodle on its homepage featuring a rabbit as the China is celebrating 2011 as the Year of the Rabbit and number 4709. The Doodle shows the company name 'GOOGLE' where the fourth letter 'G' is replaced by a rabbit and the letter 'L' with a plant.

The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the Chinese horoscope, which has a 12-year cycle. Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese Lunisolar Calendar.

The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions surrounding it. Ancient Chinese New Year is a reflection of how people behaved and what they believed in the most.

The Chinese lunisolar calender that is also relevant for other Asian countries that have adopted the Han culture, is based on the phases of the moon and usually marks the new year on the second new moon of the winter solstice.

Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with a significant Chinese population, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and also Chinatowns elsewhere.

According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nian.

We at OneIndia wishes all our readers a 'Happy New Year'.

OneIndia News