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Shanghai is one of the most important cities in Asia and of the prominent ports in the Far East. The city boasts of a rich heritage with over 6000 years of history. The city celebrates a number of important festivals and the Chinese New year is one such important festival. The Chine New Year Festival in Shanghai is celebrated usually on the first day of the year of the lunar calendar. The festival is usually celebrated in late January or February. During the festival there are fireworks displays all over the city. Family and friends meet and greet each other and indulge in Yangge dancing, lion and dragon dancing, and many other celebrations. The origins of the Yangge dance can be traced back to 2000 years as a religious activity to greet the Gods and dispel evil. Today it is more of a recreational activity during the sowing season and on holidays. As soon as the clock rings to announce the arrival of the New Year, many households light up fireworks in celebration at the same time. There is a thunderous roar and the fireworks create clouds of smoke. The use of fireworks is meant to send of the old and bring in the new. Everyone in the family wears new clothes the next morning and on following days. People visit friends and relatives to exchange New Year greetings. Apart from the lion and dragon dances there are grand celebrations to mark the New Year such as Temple Fairs in Beijing.
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