By the New Year, the grains sprout, which symbolizes the beginning of spring and a new year of life.
Hindus, depending on where they live, organize New Year's Eve celebrations in different ways. Residents of northern India decorate themselves with flowers in shades of pink, red, purple, or white. In south India, mothers place sweets, flowers, small gifts on a special tray. On the morning of the New Year, children should eyes closed wait until they are brought to the tray. In central India, orange flags are hung on buildings. In western India New Year celebrated at the end of October. Small lights are lit on the roofs of houses. On New Year's Day, Hindus think of the goddess of wealth Lakshmi.
The Jewish New Year is called Ron Hashanah. In the last month of the Jewish year, in the morning prayer they read “Slichot” - a special prayer in which they talk about the sins they have committed and ask God for forgiveness. However, the New Year itself is fun party. In Ron Hashanah, all Jews, regardless of community, have apples and honey on their table. Apple pieces are dipped in honey and eaten. Ashkenazi (European descent) Jews have a tradition of eating stuffed fish - gefilte fish - on New Year's Day.
The first 10 days of the new year - the so-called. 10 days of repentance - dedicated to prayers for forgiveness. After this comes the Day of Judgment - on this day Jews fast and pray for forgiveness almost all day.
In Vietnam, New Year is called Tet. He is met between January 21 and February 19. The exact date of the holiday changes from year to year. The Vietnamese believe that a god lives in every home, and on New Year's Day this god goes to heaven to tell how each family member spent the past year. The Vietnamese once believed that God swam on the back of a carp fish. Nowadays, on New Year's Day, the Vietnamese sometimes buy live carp and then release it into a river or pond. They also believe that the first person to enter their home on New Year's Day will bring good or bad luck for the coming year.
In Japan, the New Year occurs on January 1st. To keep out evil spirits, the Japanese hang bundles of straw at the entrance to their houses, which they believe brings good luck. As the New Year begins, the Japanese begin to laugh. They believe that laughter will bring them good luck in the coming year.
Chinese New Year is celebrated between January 17 and February 19, during the new moon. Street processions are the most exciting part of the holiday. Thousands of lanterns are lit during processions to light the way into the New Year. The Chinese believe that the New Year is surrounded by evil spirits. Therefore, they scare them away with firecrackers and firecrackers. Sometimes the Chinese cover windows and doors with paper to keep out evil spirits.
Chinese New Year: Interesting Facts about the holiday
5 (100%) 2 votesChinese New Year has been celebrated for over 4,000 years. It originates from ancient festivals that were celebrated at the end of winter and beginning of spring. It is called the Spring Festival or the first day of the Great Year. By Chinese tradition– On New Year’s Day, everyone should let go of the past and welcome the future.
East is a delicate matter
We and other Western countries celebrate this holiday on January 1st. The date of Chinese New Year changes every year because it falls on the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar. The celebrations end on the first day of the full moon (15th day).
The Chinese lunar calendar is divided into 12 cycles. Each year (cycle) is named after one of the fauna representatives. They are located in strict order, one after another: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
Among Chinese schoolchildren New Year holidays last during the celebration of the Eastern New Year.
How they celebrate in the East
People decorate their homes with tangerine trees, which bring good luck. Houses are also decorated with decorations cut out of red and white paper. They symbolize happiness, luck, longevity and wealth.
According to tradition, in New Year's Eve all relatives and friends of the family gather for a festive dinner.
Traditional dishes should be on the table:
- jiu nyang tan - sweet rice soup with wine;
- gao rice cake;
- tang yuan sesame – black rice ball soup;
- also dishes made from chicken, duck and fish.
Children often receive red shiny envelopes with money as gifts from relatives. There should always be an even amount of money in the envelope and should not be associated with the number 4, because the Chinese believe that the number 4 symbolizes death.
New Year's fireworks
Fireworks are often set off during Chinese New Year. Firecrackers are believed to ward off evil spirits.
On the 5th day of the New Year, the gods of wealth and prosperity are welcomed to the Celestial Empire. They are believed to descend from heaven. During this celebration, some business owners buy fireworks to bring good luck to their business.
Dragons for good luck
Also an important part of Chinese New Year's holidays are dragons. Some Chinese believe that they are descendants of the dragon. The dragon, in China, is a sign of luck and good fortune. During the festival, many residents dress up in dragon costumes, perform dragon dances, and hold other events involving dragons.
On the last, 15th day of the New Year, the Lantens-Yuan Xiao Jie Festival is held.
Would you like to visit China during the New Year holidays? We'd love for you to share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Ekaterina Medvedeva
Strange as it may seem, it is the Traditional Chinese New Year that can be called the most Russian holiday. Judge for yourself, it lasts two weeks, and preparations for it for another two weeks. Does this remind you of anything? In imperial China, the New Year holidays lasted a month. All government institutions and offices were closed. Classes in schools were also interrupted for a month. Since ancient times, the New Year in China has been a truly national holiday - the most solemn, the most joyful, the noisiest and longest. This is how it remains today.
Preparations for the New Year
Preparations for the New Year begin two weeks in advance, after the full moon of the last month of the year. Before the New Year, custom prescribed to pay off debts or collect what was due from debtors. In the Middle Ages, creditors used all means to repay what was borrowed, even going so far as to spend the night at the debtor’s house.
All the tasks of the outgoing year must be completed.
Farewell to the God of the Hearth
One of the main rituals of preparation for the New Year is seeing off the God of the hearth - Tsao-wan. It is believed that Zao-wan is a messenger from the heavenly Patron of Fates and that Zao-wan reports to Heaven about everything good and bad that happens in the house during the year.
Tsao-wan lives in a niche in the wall behind the hearth, and in modern houses above the stove. His portrait printed on paper is kept here. Above the portrait is inscribed the title of the god: “Lord of Fates from Eastern Cuisine.” And on the right and left there are wishes: “When you ascend to Heaven, talk about good deeds,” “When you return from the Palace, send down good luck and happiness.”
Oddly enough, Zao-wan was known among the people as illiterate, and therefore it was forbidden to burn written paper in his presence, because he could mistakenly deliver it to the Heavenly Lord.
Worship of the God of the hearth was traditionally the prerogative of men. In Northern China, this rule was observed so strictly that in the absence of a man in the house, God was invited to see off the New Year male relative who lived next door.
A Chinese friend of mine living in Canada finds this custom offensive. My friends in Russia find this tradition very cute and do not miss the opportunity to invite a work colleague or a new acquaintance to their home to carry out such an important mission.
On the day of farewell to the God of the Hearth, a few hours before his departure, candles and incense should be lit, sacrificial offerings should be made, mainly sweet dishes: sweets, candied fruits...
Previously, New Year's cake (niangao) was a mandatory part of the ritual; the fact is that it symbolized silver bars that were in circulation during the reign of the Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911).
From our point of view, chocolates in the form of coins or bills can easily replace New Year's cakes.
In addition, Zao-wan is presented with wine and meat, and in the south of China - fish.
In the North of China, they do not forget about the Horse of God: they place a saucer of water and finely chopped hay for it, and a red cord is placed next to it - a bridle for the Heavenly Horse.
So that Zao-wang, upon arrival in the Heavenly Palace, would say only good things about his charges, honey is poured on the lips of God, it is believed that his lips will stick together, and he will not be able to tell about everything he saw. Often, for the same purpose, wine was splashed onto his portrait in order to make the divine patron drunk.
At an auspicious hour for farewell, the household gathers in the kitchen, by the fireplace, bows to Zao-wan three times, the head of the family (the eldest man in the family) says a prayer: “Speak, more good and less bad.” Then the altar of Tsao-wang is solemnly taken into the courtyard, making sure that God always faces the South, as befits a ruler. There, the image of God is burned to the deafening explosions of firecrackers. At the same time, peas and beans are thrown onto the kitchen roof, imitating the sound of a horse's hooves moving away.
If you live in the city and do not want to attract too much attention to yourself, I can suggest our version of “apartment” wires. After bows and prayers, the portrait of God is burned. The window is solemnly opened, fireworks are launched into the sky so that it illuminates the way for Zao-wan to the Heavenly Palace, the ashes are scattered in the air, you throw beans and peas into the window, but so that they knock on the cornice of the window sill. Usually, immediately after burning the image of Tsao-wan, at the beginning of the ceremony, we light sparklers, as we think this will help our Patron find his way back in the new year.
After seeing off Zao-wan, they did a general cleaning of the house. For this purpose, only once a year, heavy furniture is moved and all the rubbish accumulated in the premises is swept away, walls and windows are diligently wiped, utensils are washed, the fireplace is cleaned, etc. The meaning of such traditional cleaning was to free oneself from the harmful influences of the outgoing year.
I must admit that over the 13 years of annual New Year celebrations, it also happened that we did not always have time to see off the God of the Hearth on time, so as not to disrupt the solemnity of the ritual, we said goodbye to Zao-wan after the completion of the spring cleaning (in the hope that he will report how diligently we prepared for the New Year, and maybe that Zao-wan will see the house cleaned at least once a year and he will have something to report to Heaven).
New Year's Home Decoration
After seeing off Zao-wan, after completing the spring cleaning, the time comes holiday decoration Houses. For this purpose, New Year's inscriptions are made, with wishes of good luck and happiness in the New Year, usually on red paper, and in houses where mourning is observed - on blue or white.
Traditional New Year's inscriptions: “Let happiness come, let wealth be born”, “Among the four seasons of Heaven, spring is the head”, “May there be five types of happiness in the house: longevity, happiness, fertility, honor, wealth.”
You can make up your own inscriptions and draw a family motto for the coming year. Benevolent inscriptions were used to decorate the entrance to the house, rooms, or any attractive place inside the house or in the yard. In addition to inscriptions, various talismans were hung at the entrance to the house. The most popular New Year's amulet was the image of the hieroglyph “happiness” (Fu). Sometimes a picture with the hieroglyph “happiness” was hung upside down. The fact is that in Chinese: “happiness has turned over” - it sounds like: “happiness has arrived.” An ancient legend connects the custom of hanging the hieroglyph for “happiness” on doors or gates with Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. One New Year's Eve, he was walking through the streets of Nanjing and noticed pictures of a barefoot woman on some houses. The emperor saw in such pictures an offensive allusion to his wife, who had large legs like a simple peasant woman. Then he ordered the hieroglyph “happiness” to be painted on the gates of those houses where the seditious picture was not hung, and then to kill the inhabitants of those houses that did not have an identification mark. The subjects of the vengeful ruler firmly remembered his cruel lesson, and since then the “happiness” sign has become the most popular New Year symbol in China. It was also customary to hang decorative money at the entrance to the house, guided by the idea that things of the same kind are drawn to each other, most often these were pieces of yellow or red paper with a floral pattern, “lucky” hieroglyphs or the names of deities.
We tried this custom, but it did not bring us money. Perhaps the fact is that in the Western mentality, decorative money does not evoke the necessary subconscious associations. We made a photocopy of real money and covered the entire hallway with it, but the effect was the opposite. Apparently, only real money can attract money in the minds of a Russian person. Since the New Year celebration does not include the presence random people in the house, then the custom is quite safe.
In northern China there is a tradition of decorating a house with pine branches, and in the south with cypress branches. These trees in China are symbols of immortality and spiritual nobility. Small branches were sometimes pinned to clothes or used to decorate hair.
Candles, oil lanterns, incense and fresh flowers are also integral attributes of home decoration, as are pictures of Deities.
An important part of home decoration was a picture or statue of God Zhong Kui. It protects against evil spirits and demons.
Another important amulet is charcoal. A block of charcoal wrapped in red paper is hung above the front door. “General – Coal” serves as a protection against wickedness and at the same time attracts wealth. Some of our friends hung “General – Coal” above the entrance to their apartment. Their daughter's groom constantly, when he came to their house, touched this amulet with his head, and each time he asked the bride to remove the coal. Either it was a matter of the amulet, or young man, but it didn’t come to the wedding...
New Year's Treats
Food was prepared for future use, and a lot of food was prepared. The fact is that in the first days of the new year it is forbidden to use knives and other sharp objects, so as not to “cut off” the happiness of the next year.
The holiday treat had a special meaning, each dish had meaning.
Dumplings - wishes for happy offspring and material prosperity.
Noodles - a symbol of long life.
Various round shaped flour products - a symbol of prosperity.
Dishes with fish - a symbol of prosperity.
Eggs - a symbol of good luck.
Beans - a talisman against evil spirits.
Oranges, tangerines, persimmons (red, orange fruits) - a symbol of happiness.
Rice - a symbol of wealth and prosperity. (Rice has always been an obligatory part of offerings to the Gods).
In medieval China, there was a custom for the New Year to drink special drinks that could lengthen life and protect against misfortunes. For example, wine infused with pepper; plum blossoms; medicinal herbs; cypress needles, etc.
Now, fortunately, there is a huge selection of Chinese and Japanese wines, especially around the New Year. We make our own wine, which has already become part of our tradition.
Food at the festive table is distributed to guests, saying: “A thousand blows, ten thousand swear words for one treat,” i.e. It is believed that New Year's food removes the sins of the past year.
New Year's Eve
This is the day of summing up the results of the outgoing year. At the end of the day, a report is written to Heaven. Tradition tells us to start with words of gratitude to the Gods for all the good things that happened in the year. And only after this can you make requests for help in the affairs of the coming year. The memorandum is placed in an envelope on which the address is written: “To the Elders of Heaven and Earth.” She must be sent to Heaven, burned immediately after the new moon.
Another important tradition is the construction of the “Altar of the Ancestors”. It is erected in advance in the room where the holiday will take place. Portraits and photographs of deceased ancestors or sheets of blue (white) paper with their names are displayed on a special table. Light candles and incense sticks.
All food before being put on festive table, “offered” to the ancestors.
Guests gather on New Year's Eve. With the arrival of the last guest, all doors and windows are opened, and a ritual of exorcism is performed.
(we borrowed this ritual from the Tibetan tradition). All the guests, screaming, ringing bells, making terrible sounds with musical instruments (sometimes pot lids are used) walk around every room of the house. The evil spirits get scared and run away through open doors and windows. Immediately all the doors and windows are closed, the front door or gate is sealed with strips of red paper crosswise in order not to let out the happiness of the New Year and to protect the house from evil spirits. If you are celebrating the New Year outside the city, then you should run around the entire area and look into all the utility rooms. Now, you can no longer open the door to anyone until the due date. Whoever asks you to open the door, know that this evil spirit has turned into a person you know.
One time we did not believe the words of the ancients, and the door was opened ahead of time. We thought we were letting in a late guest, but in fact, it was a demon who had turned around. Our friend, right from the doorstep, drank a bottle of festive wine in one gulp before our eyes, said a “kind word” to each of those present and left. Since then we have strictly observed traditions.
New Year's Eve rituals
In China, New Year is strictly a family holiday. In medieval China, meeting him in a noisy company, in a restaurant, was unthinkable. Nowadays there are no such strict restrictions, but it is still a home holiday for narrow circle friends or family members.
On New Year's Eve, a number of important rituals must be performed.
Firstly, this is the meeting of the God of the hearth - Tsao-wang. In some provinces of China they tried to do this long before the onset of New Year's Eve, since there was a belief that if you delay, then all the best Gods - the handsome ones - will be dismantled. But in most provinces of China, Tsao-wang is greeted after midnight. The head of the family or the owner of the house pastes a portrait of God over the hearth, with the words: “Having returned from the Palace, send down good luck and happiness.”
In our experience, taking into account time zones, the best Gods go to the Japanese and Chinese, and the laziest to the Americans.
Secondly, it was supposed to meet the Big Gods who came to earth on New Year's Eve. It is believed that on New Year's Eve the Gods descend to earth, so to meet them it is necessary to build a special altar on the street, or on the balcony for residents of city apartments.
In a simplified version, it is a table covered with red cloth, a sheet of paper is placed on it with the inscription: “We sincerely ask you to welcome all the holy sages of Heaven,” festive treats are placed, candles and incense sticks are lit. A long pole, preferably made of bamboo, is attached to the table so that it is convenient for the Gods to descend. Usually the sacrificial table is prepared in advance and taken outside on New Year's Eve.
Three bows should be made, then the New Year's smoking rack is lit (this is a long stick wrapped in red paper, symbolizing long life). This is done two more times. At this moment, you can turn to the Big Gods with prayer. (The sacrificial table is left for three days and three nights, every day, changing the offerings on it).
Thirdly, one should bow to the spirits of the ancestors. They prostrate (bow) three times in front of the altar, and three sticks are lit in the incense burner.
And they say the words three times: “We wish you bliss and happiness in Paradise.”
Only after this do they sit down at the table.
At the table, everyone should watch their speech; it is forbidden to swear, pronounce words with an unpleasant meaning, or remember death and demons. If someone breaks this rule, their mouth is wiped with a red cloth or sacrificial money. So that no one forgets about the prohibitions, a sheet of red paper is hung with the inscription: red mouth. For greater peace of mind, sometimes they put up a sign: “The words of women and children do not count.”
I don’t know about the Chinese, but celebrating even the Eastern New Year here in Russia doesn’t involve two or three glasses. To protect yourself and your guests, our plates, napkins and even glasses are red.
The final ritual of New Year's Eve is the first walk of the year. The head of the family or the owner of the house leads the procession of guests, attaching a sheet next to the door with the inscription: “If you go out for a walk, it’s great luck. Our wealth will increase,” they leave the “gate” and go in a southern direction. After walking three dozen steps, three cups of wine are poured onto the ground. After this they return to the house. It is believed that the God of Joy is honored in this way.
New Year's Fortune Telling
One of the ancient New Year's fortune-telling is fortune-telling by the hearth. A jug of water was placed on the hearth and a stick was thrown into it; when the stick stopped rotating in the water, the fortuneteller went out into the street and walked in the direction where she pointed, listening to the words of passers-by. Good words served as an omen of happiness, bad ones promised failure. This fortune telling was usually carried out before the New Year.
If you are celebrating the New Year in a city apartment, then it is very important, for the same purpose, to listen to what is happening outside the windows, but after the New Year has arrived. (The spirit of fortune telling is preserved here, but we have remade it in a modern way).
On the eve of 2006, turning on the TV, I heard an interview with the head of GAZPROM (Russia). He commented on the current situation with gas supplies to Ukraine and told an anecdote:
“The traffic cop is transferred to Rublyovka and given instructions:
“Don’t stop any cars except a red Mercedes with dark windows. You come up and they’ll give you $100.” That's how it all happened.
A Mercedes stopped, the window rolled down, and they gave me $100. And suddenly, there was no Mercedes for two weeks. Two weeks later, seeing the Mercedes, the traffic cop almost threw himself under the wheels. The car stopped and they handed him $100 again. Here the traffic cop could not stand it and asked.
Traffic cop: - Where have you been for two weeks?
"Mercedes": - We were on vacation in Hawaii.
Traffic cop: “What is this happening, at my expense?”
The anecdote hit the spot. As sad as it is, throughout the year, one way or another, I acted as GAZPROM, from which gas is stolen, and it still has to pay for it.
On the first day of the New Year, they usually tell fortunes using the Book of Changes, on the stems of yarrow: “What will the year be like?” Any fortune telling is appropriate on this day: Runes; tarot cards; Twins…
Sometimes events can be predicted by one of the guests if the oracle “speaks” through his lips. Or as we call it: “a prophet moved into him.” Based on our experience, “prophets” became people who were either invited to celebrate the New Year for the first time or those who, for whatever reason, did not celebrate this holiday with us for several years in a row.
In 2004, one of the guests was possessed by a “prophet” and through his lips he told the following story: “Former classmates met, they had been friends since first grade. Four of them became public, and some even became oligarchs. Only one of them was poor, but very talented. Friends wanted to help a friend, they chipped in money for his apartment ($100,000). They gave him a car with a driver and sent him home. There were traffic jams on the roads, as always, and having almost arrived at the house, he decided to walk to the entrance. On his way home, he stopped to drink beer at a tent. He drank, ate, and only at home he discovered that he had left the bag of money where he drank beer.”
That year, I really almost missed the unique opportunity that life gave me. But remembering this story in time, mobilizing all my strength, at the last moment I caught the elusive luck “by the tail.”
And in conclusion
Most of the traditional customs and rituals of the New Year's Eve and New Year's festivities go back to ancient magical acts designed to ensure prosperity and wealth, health and well-being of the family.
The New Year in China opens a new page in life for everyone, instilling hope for new happiness in everyone.
The most important thing is the Spirit of the holiday, follow the traditions, create your own, it’s up to you what it will be like.
Happy New Year!
P.S. The traditional Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first new moon after the sun enters the constellation Aquarius. To make it easier for you to determine the date, we have compiled a table for twenty years in advance.
I cannot help but express my admiration and gratitude to the talented team of authors who created a unique monograph: “Calendar customs and rituals of the peoples of East Asia. New Year". Your scientific works are a source of knowledge and inspiration.
Literary sources:
- "Religions of the World". John Bowker. Dorling Kindersley Limited London 1997 pp.94 – 95
- “Calendar customs and rituals of the peoples of East Asia. New Year." Moscow. 1985 pp.11 – 58
- "Chinese Classical Book of Changes". Yu.K. Shchutsky. Moscow. 1960
- "Symbols of the Tarot". P.D. Uspensky. Moscow. 1993
- "A Practical Guide to Runes." Lisa Peschel. Moscow. 1997
- "Twins. Perm Oracle for Fortune telling and Attracting Personal Luck." S. Teterin. "Sofia". 2000
- "The American Ephemeris for the 21st Century 2001 – 2050 at Midnight."
| Year | Day Month |
Time New moon |
Zodiac sign | Element | Planet | Color | Ian or Yin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | February 17 | 19: 15 | Pig | Fire | Mars | Red | Yin |
| 2008 | February 7 | 06: 46 | Mouse | Earth | Saturn | Yellow | Ian |
| 2009 | January 26 | 10: 56 | Bull | Earth | Saturn | Yellow | Yin |
| 2010 | The 14th of February | 05: 52 | Tiger | Metal | Venus | White | Ian |
| 2011 | February 3rd | 05: 52 | Hare | Metal | Venus | White | Yin |
| 2012 | January 23 | 10: 40 | The Dragon | Water | Mercury | Black | Ian |
| 2013 | February 10 | 10: 21 | Snake | Water | Mercury | Black | Yin |
| 2014 | 1st of February | 00: 40 | Horse | Tree | Jupiter | Green (blue) |
Ian |
| 2015 | February 19 | 02: 48 | Sheep | Tree | Jupiter | Green (blue) |
Yin |
| 2016 | February 8 | 17: 40 | Monkey | Fire | Mars | Red | Ian |
| 2017 | 28 January | 03: 08 | Rooster | Fire | Mars | Red | Yin |
| 2018 | February 16 | 00: 06 | Dog | Earth | Saturn | Yellow | Ian |
| 2019 | February 5th | 00: 05 | Pig | Earth | Saturn | Yellow | Yin |
| 2020 | The 25th of January | 00:43 | Mouse | Metal | Venus | White | Ian |
| 2021 | 11 February | 22: 07 | Bull | Metal | Venus | White | Yin |
| 2022 | 1st of February | 08: 47 | Tiger | Water | Mercury | Black | Ian |
| 2023 | January 21 | 23: 54 | Hare | Water | Mercury | Black | Yin |
| 2024 | February 10 | 02:00 | The Dragon | Tree | Jupiter | Green (blue) |
Ian |
| 2025 | January 29 | 15: 37 | Snake | Tree | Jupiter | Green (blue) |
Yin |
| 2026 | February 17 | 15: 02 | Horse | Fire | Mars | Red | Ian |
| 2027 | February 6 | 18: 57 | Sheep | Fire | Mars | Red | Yin |
2020 is the year of the rat eastern calendar .
Official holidays for the new year in China in 2020: from January 24 to January 30 (due to epidemic extended until February 9).
In 2020, Chinese New Year according to the Eastern calendar is celebrated on the night of January 24-25, at 24:00.
Chinese New Year or Spring Festival: (Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, 春节, 过年) - the most important holiday in China, the date of celebration of which is determined by the lunar calendar, in 2020 it falls on January 25.
Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, has a history of more than 4,000 years. This is the greatest and most important holiday of the year for the Chinese, let's look at why:
- Time for a family reunion
Chinese New Year is a celebration of the reunion of the entire family clan, just as they do at Christmas in the West, only on a larger scale: on the eve of the New Year, all the masses leave the cities to meet at the family table in their hometown. Which causes traffic collapse for many weeks before and after the new year.
- Longest holiday in China
In most organizations in China, holiday holidays last from 7 to 15 days, and schoolchildren and students go on vacation for a whole month.
Traditionally, the celebration lasts 15 days from the 1st to the 15th day of the first lunar month, and it is customary for people to start preparations even earlier - from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month.
- The holiday owes its origin to the monster “Nian”
The holiday dates back to the Shang Dynasty (17-11 centuries BC). The festival was then held to drive out the monster "Nian", who loved to devour children, supplies and livestock. The monster was afraid of the color red and loud sound, so people decorated their houses red and set off lots of fireworks to ward him off.
Chinese New Year celebration dates
When is Chinese New Year? Based on lunar calendar, the festival does not have a fixed date and it changes every year, but generally falls on the day from January 21 to February 20 according to the Gregorian calendar.
The lunar calendar also determines the 12-year repeating cycle of the eastern zodiac, and each year belongs to an animal.
How long does Chinese New Year last? The festival lasts 15 days, from the Spring Festival to the Lantern Festival.
How is Chinese New Year celebrated?
Preparations begin seven days before the Chinese New Year, and the holiday itself lasts until the Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the new year.
The Chinese have a daily to-do list that must be followed during the holiday. Important days are the Eve and the first day; on these days a festive feast is held and fireworks are set off.
▷ 23rd day of the last lunar month (8 days before the new year)
Making offerings to the God of the kitchen
General cleaning of the house
Holiday shopping, buying New Year's attributes,
▷ Chinese New Year's Eve:
Preparing red envelopes, family reunion dinner, watching holiday programs on TV, setting off fireworks.
▷ 1st day of the first lunar month:
Setting off fireworks, preparing and eating dumplings or nengao (sweet delicacy), visiting relatives.
▷ Day 2:
Worship of the God of Wealth, married daughters visit their parents' house (the first day should be spent with the groom's family).
▷ Day 5:
Greeting the deity of wealth and prosperity, visiting friends.
▷ Day 15 (Lantern Festival):
On the last day of the New Year, a Lantern Fair is held and sweet stuffed rice balls are prepared and eaten.
Events on the eve of the holiday
Before the Spring Festival, each family thoroughly cleans their home and goes shopping. Gift red envelopes are being prepared, various new Year decoration for the home, red ribbons are hung on the door inviting good luck and wealth into the house.
In addition, you definitely need to buy new clothes, especially for children; for the Chinese it is very important to celebrate the New Year in everything new. During family dinners around the Lunar New Year, northern Chinese eat dumplings and southern Chinese eat Nyangao 年糕 (cookies made from glutinous rice and flour). All family members exchange red envelopes with money.
Why is red so popular in China? Red symbolizes happiness, prosperity and good fortune in Chinese culture.
What is forbidden to do on Chinese New Year?
At the beginning of the Lunar New Year, the Chinese try to set the pace of their lives in their daily affairs. next year, as they say: how you celebrate the New Year is how you will spend it. During the entire holiday, words such as “death,” “loss,” “murder,” “ghost,” and “disease” are prohibited.
During the entire Chinese New Year it is forbidden:
- Borrowing and lending money will bring financial losses next year.
Breaking things means you will be away from your family all year.
Crying means causing failure.
Taking medications means you will be sick all year.
Wash your hair - wash away wealth (in Chinese, the words hair and wealth are synonyms).
Sweeping - sweeping away good luck.
Using scissors means quarrels with people.
Eating porridge means you bring poverty.
Gifts for Chinese New Year
What to give for the Spring Festival in China:
- Alcoholic drinks
- Cigarettes
- Tea and Fruits
- Cosmetics and products for longevity (balms, swallow's nests)
- Red envelopes with money (amounts in no case should contain the number 4, amounts with big amount eights).
Quantity is also of great importance, since numerology plays a huge role in China, and each number has a specific meaning. The Chinese believe that everything good should have a pair, so gifts are also given in pairs, for example two packs of cigarettes or 2 bottles of rice wine. If you decide to give a red envelope with money, it is best that the numbers are multiples of: 8 (the most revered number in China, consonant with the word wealth), 6 or 9, for example, you can put 68, 288, 688, 999 yuan in the envelope. Beware of the number 4, it is an unlucky number and is consonant with the word death.
Chinese New Year Greetings:
春节快乐 (chūn jié kuài lè) - Happy New Year!新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè) - Happy New Year!
恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái) - I wish you great wealth!
I wish you success in all your undertakings, and the fulfillment of all your desires, so that your prosperity increases every year! I wish you happiness and prosperity!
What you should not give to the Chinese:
- Umbrellas
- Shoes
- Pears
- Sharp objects
- Chrysanthemums.
Where to celebrate the spring festival?
In China, each province has its own traditions and events that are held during the celebration of this grand festival. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an with authentic folk festivals are great places to visit while on vacation. But still, we advise for a while Chinese holidays choose another country to visit, since at this time most establishments in China are closed, the vast majority of local residents leave the cities, and tickets for all types of transport become scarce.
Celebrating Chinese New Year in other countries
The festival is celebrated not only in China, but also in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, some Asian countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, as well as in Chinatowns in the USA, Canada, UK and Australia. Celebration traditions in different places gradually change under the influence of local characteristics and become unique.
Foreign New Year traditions.
In Afghanistan, the New Year takes place on the day of the Great Equinox. The head of the village goes out to the field and makes the first furrow. Following him are the most respected fellow villagers. Drinking alcoholic beverages is prohibited by law. Wine is therefore replaced by sweets. Traditionally, women gather separately from men. They usually place a girl sentry in front of their gathering place.
In Burma, the New Year comes at the hottest time, and its arrival is celebrated with a water festival. The spectacle, I must say, is very funny: when people meet, they pour water on each other from different dishes. But pouring water does not offend anyone, because this ritual is a kind of wish for happiness in the New Year.
In Vietnam, New Year is celebrated at night. At dusk, Vietnamese people light bonfires in parks, gardens or on the streets. Several families gather around them and cook special rice delicacies over the coals. On this night, all quarrels are forgotten, all insults are forgiven, because the New Year is a holiday of friendship! The Vietnamese spend the entire next day with their families. The Vietnamese believe that the first person who enters their house in the New Year will bring them good luck, or vice versa - grief and misfortune. Therefore, these days, meet only with trusted people, just in case.
New Year is celebrated very unusually in Indonesia. So, on the island of Bali it lasts 10 days. These days, two-meter columns of colored rice are erected. They are intended for the gods. At the end of the festivities, the columns go home. People eat the rice, but the gods are left with memories of the gifts.
Very beautiful rituals of celebrating the New Year in India. The people of northern India decorate themselves with white, pink, red and purple flowers. In central India, buildings are decorated with multi-colored, mostly orange, flags. In western India, small lights are lit on the roofs of houses. Hindus have their own rules for giving gifts. For example, gifts for children are placed on a special tray. In the morning, the children close their eyes and are brought to this tray.
And in Iran, the New Year is celebrated on March 21. There, people plant wheat grains in small pots a few weeks before the New Year. By the New Year they emerge - this symbolizes the beginning of spring and the New Year.
In China, the New Year is always celebrated during the new moon in late January - early February. During the festive procession that flows through the streets of China on New Year's Eve, people light many lanterns. This is done in order to light the way into the New Year. Since it is believed that the New Year is surrounded by evil spirits and evil spirits, they are scared away with the help of firecrackers and fireworks.
In Micronesia, the inhabitants of one of the islands change their name every year. This is done to confuse evil spirits. It happens like this: waking up on the first of January, family members cover their mouths with their palms and tell each other their new name. At the same time, one of the relatives beats a tambourine so that the evil spirit cannot overhear. If two tribesmen meet somewhere on the road, then both squat down and whisper their name in the ear of the other, beating the ground with all their might with a stick or palm. Everyone chooses their own name. As a result, various incidents occur. So, one year, half the villagers were named Michael Jackson!
In Mongolia, the New Year coincides with the cattle breeding holiday, so it is characterized by sports competitions, competitions for dexterity, ingenuity, and courage. Just like the peoples of Europe, the Mongols celebrate the New Year at the Christmas tree. Santa Claus also comes to them, dressed, however, as a cattle breeder.
In Sudan, the talisman of the New Year is a green, unripe nut. The most best wishes person - to find an unripe nut that would bring happiness and good luck throughout the year.
In the Philippines, mass production of Christmas trees from plastic, papier-mâché, and branches begins in November. Lantern competitions are held for the most different sizes and forms. In the thirty-degree heat that is here at the end of December, it is especially interesting to see Santa Clauses walking around in red coats trimmed with white synthetic fur.
In Japan, New Year is considered the biggest holiday. It continues for several days. New Year's Eve is called "golden week". At this time, many institutions and firms, government organizations, and large department stores stop operating. Even banks are open until 12 noon on December 31st and have a rest for the first three days of the New Year.
The custom of seeing off the Old Year is obligatory, including organizing receptions and visiting restaurants. When the New Year arrives, the Japanese begin to laugh. They believe that laughter will bring them good luck in the coming year. On the first New Year's Eve it is customary to visit the temple. The temples ring a bell 108 times. With each blow, as the Japanese believe, everything bad goes away, which should not happen again in the New Year. To ward off evil spirits, the Japanese hang wreaths of straw (or just bunches) in front of the entrance to their houses. A straw rope stretched in front of the doors also wards off evil spirits.
In houses, rice cakes are placed in a prominent place, on top of which tangerines are placed, symbolizing happiness, health and longevity. Bamboo and pine are placed near houses - symbols of fidelity and longevity. In every Japanese house for the New Year, 3 branches appear: bamboo - may children grow up just as quickly, plums - may the owners have strong helpers, pine trees - may all family members live as long as pine. It is forbidden to pronounce any words with an unpleasant meaning. You can’t talk about death, demons and a whole range of animals - fox, dragon, tiger, snake. If children accidentally violated any verbal prohibition, then the parents wipe their mouth with a specially prepared ritual cloth.
The New Year is celebrated not at midnight, but at sunrise. When the first rays of the sun illuminate the earth, the Japanese congratulate each other on the new year and exchange gifts. And the evening is usually spent with family. Like the Chinese, visits to parents are mandatory here.
How to deliciously warm up in winter?
