How Chinese New Year Works

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is a festive holiday celebrated by over 20% of the world’s population. It falls between late January and the third week of February and is celebrated in mainland China and many other Asian countries, as well as by people of Asian heritage around the world.

While Chinese New Year once had a close connection to Buddhist, Taoist, and folk religious practices, it is now mainly a secular celebration. People celebrate in different ways, from paying honor to ancestors based on age-old traditions to watching a traditional gala on television, which is a modern way to celebrate.

The celebration of the Chinese New Year is based on a calendar that has its roots in ancient China. The calendar, which originated in China in the 14th century B.C., was originally connected to the agricultural cycle. Early spring, when the Chinese New Year takes place, was the time when farmers began to prepare for planting. This period also marked the end of the year, when the landlord would collect the yearly rent for the farmers’ land. Those who were able to pay the rent had reason to celebrate.

In the past, before the invention of gunpowder, people would make loud noises by tossing sections of bamboo into a fire. The heat caused these primitive firecrackers to explode with a bang, which was a way to celebrate and drive away evil spirits. This tradition has evolved over time and the use of firecrackers and fireworks is still a significant part of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

The celebration of Chinese New Year typically lasts for 15 days, unlike the one-day New Year celebration in the West. The lead-up to the New Year is a time for cleaning and preparing for the new year, including decorating the home with red lanterns and banners, which symbolize good luck and prosperity.

The Chinese calendar follows a 12-year cycle, with each year being associated with one of 12 animal symbols, such as the Horse, Rabbit, and Dragon. These symbols are based on the Chinese zodiac, which is a system of assigning an animal to each year in a repeating 12-year cycle. Every new year marks the end of the reign of one animal and the beginning of the next. For example, 2012 was the year of the Dragon, 2013 was the year of the Snake, and 2014 was the year of the Horse.

According to traditional Chinese beliefs, people born under the sign of a particular animal are thought to possess the qualities associated with it. For example, those born in a Dragon year are believed to be proud, self-assured, and direct; those born in a Snake year are thought to be wise and creative; and those born in a Horse year are believed to be cheerful and intelligent. These beliefs are still prevalent in many Asian cultures and are often taken into consideration when planning important events such as weddings, business ventures, and other important life events.

Chinese New Year has a variety of customs, the most important of which is the reunion dinner, which is held on New Year’s Eve. Families gather together to enjoy a feast and celebrate the end of the old year and the start of the new one.

Another important custom is giving red envelopes filled with money, known as “lai see” or “hongbao,” as gifts, usually from older relatives to younger relatives and children, it is believed that the money will bring good luck and fortune for the new year.

New Year’s Day is usually spent visiting relatives and friends, wishing them a happy new year, and receiving good luck wishes in return. The 15th day of the Chinese New Year, known as the Lantern Festival, is the final day of the celebration, people hang colorful lanterns, eat tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls) and solve riddles written on the lanterns.

Chinese New Year is also a time for traditional performances such as dragon and lion dances, and fireworks displays. These performances are believed to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck for the new year.

Like most holidays, Chinese New Year is a time to enjoy good times with family, cultivate luck, and extend wishes of prosperity in the coming year.