Year of the Tiger!
Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, is an annual 15-day festival celebrated in China and Chinese communities around the world that begins with the new moon that occurs sometime between January 21 and February 20 according to Western calendars. Festivities last until the following full moon. Chinese New Year occurs on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, in many of the countries that celebrate it.
The celebration is often called the Lunar New Year on the grounds that the dates of festivity follow the periods of the moon. Since the mid-1990s individuals in China have been given seven successive days off work during the Chinese New Year. This seven day stretch of unwinding and relaxation has been assigned Spring Festival, a term that is now and again used to allude to the Chinese New Year.
Origins
The origins of the Chinese New Year are saturated with legend. One legend is that over a millennia prior a beast named Nian ("Year")( 年) would assault villagers toward the start of each new year. The monster was afraid of loud noises, bright lights, and the colour red, so those things were used to chase the beast away. Festivities to usher out the old year and deliver the karma and success of the new one, therefore, often incorporate fireworks, firecrackers, and red garments and embellishments. Youngsters are given cash in vivid red envelopes. Likewise, Chinese New Year is an opportunity to eat and to see loved ones. Numerous traditions of the period honor family members who have died.
Among other Chinese New Year traditions is the exhaustive cleaning of one's home to free the residents of any waiting misfortune. Certain individuals get ready and appreciate extraordinary food varieties on specific days during the festivals. The last occasion held during the Chinese New Year is known as the Lantern Festival, during which individuals drape sparkling lights in sanctuaries or hold them during an evening time march. Since the dragon is a Chinese image of favorable luck, a winged serpent dance showcases celebration festivities in numerous areas. This parade includes a long, beautiful mythical beast being brought through the roads by various dancers.
Chinese New Year Myths
Evil Spirits and Poetry
One of the red designs that Chinese individuals love is Spring Festival couplet poems (春联/chūn lián). They are glued on the two sides of the door. What's more Nian isn't the main beast that these poems protect you against!
Specifically, they guard against devils who linger around the human world around evening time getting up to evil mischief. They should get back to the underworld at day break. Two divine beings watch the entry, which is under a large peach tree. Any evil spirits that hurt people during the night would be seized and given to the tigers.
To defend their homes, individuals started to carve the divine beings' names into peach wood tablets. By setting them outside their entryways, they could frighten the evil devils off.
The Stove God and Candy
The Stove God (灶君/Zào Jūn) is responsible for individuals' dinners and livelihoods. He's one of the divine beings that connect with people the most.
On the little new year (小年/xiao nián) before the authority "big" New Year (大年/dà nián), he gets back to the heavens. The Stove God reports to the Jade Emperor (玉帝 yù dì), letting him know how every family was during the year. He later returns to Earth to either favor or rebuff the families, as requested by the Jade Emperor.
Therefore families will make malt treats gourds and leave it out around evening time (similar to treats for Santa Claus).
The treats will sweeten the Stove God's mouth so he'll just praise the family. It can likewise stick his teeth together, preventing him from expressing terrible things. Thusly, the family will appreciate abundant food the whole year.
Chinese New Year Taboos
- Do not say negative words.
- Do not break ceramics or glass.
- Do not clean or sweep.
- Do not use scissors, knives or other sharp objects.
- Do not visit the wife’s family.
- Do not demand debt repayment.
- Avoid fighting and crying.
- Avoid taking medicine.
- Do not give New Year blessings to someone still in bed.
Things You Didn't Know About Chinese New Year
The most fireworks are set off in the world that night.
As in the myth about Nian, firecrackers are supposed to scare off monsters and bad luck. So people stay up on Chinese New Year’s Eve and set off firecrackers at midnight. In the morning, firecrackers are used again to welcome the new year and good luck.
The Spring Festival causes the largest human migration in the world.
The most important part of Chinese New Year is the family reunion. Everyone should come back home for the New Year’s Eve dinner.
But since in modern China, most elderly parents live in rural villages while their children work in the cities. The migration back home and to go on vacation is called chunyun (春运), or Spring Migration.
Singles hire fake boy/girlfriends to take home
You know those meddling family members during Thanksgiving? It's surprisingly more terrible in China. Particularly since having youngsters and passing down the family name is one of the main parts in Chinese culture.
Some desperate singles resort to hire a fake boyfriend or girlfriend to take home. Those who can’t (or don’t want to) go home can rent themselves out. For some of the other questions though, such as your salary, career or when you want to have kids, can’t be helped.
No showering, sweeping or throwing out garbage allowed!
Showering isn’t allowed New Year’s Day. Sweeping and throwing out garbage isn’t allowed before the 5th. This is to make sure you don’t wash away the good luck!
On the other hand, there’s a day before the Spring Festival dedicated to cleaning. This day is to sweep the bad luck away and make room for the good.
You eat dumplings for every meal, every day.
Well, technically you’re supposed to. But not many people do that anymore because you can have too much of even the most delicious foods. So most people will eat dumplings during the New Year’s Eve dinner. Others will eat them for the first breakfast.
