Chinese New Year is counted among the most celebrated festivals. It is the time when the Chinese or those who celebrate the festival sweep their house all spick and span to make room for good luck and fortune. The doors are usually decorated with paper cutouts in red colour with themes of ‘happiness’ and ‘wealth’ and gorgeous flower arrangement. Since the festivities are about to begin, here is everything you need to know about Chinese New Year that will help you know better what this big yearly festival is all about.
No Fixed Date
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Unlike other festivals, there is no fixed date for the Chinese New Year. The festivities can fall anywhere from January 21st to February 20th. In 2022, it falls on February 1st. Even though the date is finalised according to the Gregorian calendar, the Lunar calendar is still taken into consideration. Therefore, the dates keep on changing at a regular interval every year.
Decorations & Symbols
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All of the decorations are mostly in red. The houses are fully decked with red lanterns, red paper cuttings, door couplets, red Spring festival couplets, strings of (real/fake) chilli peppers, flower arrangements and more. The red colour is considered to be an invaluable weapon in Chinese culture and a symbol of wealth, happiness and prosperity. Henceforth, used in almost every Chinese New Year decoration. People will include red clothing in their festival wardrobe as well. Mandarin oranges or tangerines are used as decoration and presented as a Chinese New Year gift to friends and family.
Fireworks & Scare Monsters
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All around the world, most firecrackers are set off on the night of the Chinese New Year due to the myth about Nian which says firecrackers scare and take away bad luck and monsters. First firecrackers are set at midnight and then again in the morning to welcome good luck. From public displays in major cities to millions of private celebrations in China’s rural areas, setting off firecrackers and fireworks is a major festive ritual. Lion dances and dragon dances are also a common sight during celebrations and other cultural festivals and events.
Family Reunion Dinner
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The 16-days long festival is the time when families come together for meals. No matter where they are, each of the family members is expected to be home to celebrate the festival with their families. The reunion dinner is said to be the most significant mealtime of the year. Everyone comes together under a single roof to enjoy food, share good laughs and create memories of a lifetime. Some families have a custom of sitting together after dinner to watch the Spring Festival Gala; the most-watched TV show in China.
Exchanging Gifts & Red Envelopes
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The most common Chinese New Year gifts you will witness are red envelopes. The envelope has cash in it and is usually presented to children and older people. This particular gift delivery symbolises giving good luck to the receivers. You can also try some of these creative and unique ways to present a gift to your loved ones.
Offering Sacrifices to Ancestors
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The ancestral spirits are believed to protect and take care of their descendants and bless them with good luck and prosperity. Therefore, offering prayers to them, as a part of paying respect and piety, is an important part of the festival. Before the reunion dinner, people worship to let their ancestors eat first. Some people go to sweep tombs on this day.
Well, this is everything you should know about Chinese New Year. The celebrations usually last for two weeks, marked by beautiful rituals and traditions – all meant to usher in good fortune and good blessings. The year 2022 is the year of the Tiger that is considered to be the king of all beasts in China. It is the symbol of bravery, strength and confidence.
