All about Chinese New Year
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2020 17:44:32 +0000
CELEBRATED by more than 20 percent of the world, Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China and to Chinese people around the globe. Here are some interesting information about Chinese New Year.
Other name of Chinese New Year
Also called chunjie or the Spring Festival, this holiday marks the end of the coldest days. It’s the beginning of planting and harvest, new beginnings and fresh starts. It’s also called Lunar New Year because countries such as North and South Korea and Vietnam celebrate this holiday.
No set dates
Chinese New Year ranges from January 21 o February 20. This 2020, Chinese New Year is on January 25.
Day of prayer
The Spring Festival was originally a ceremonial day to pray to gods for a good planting and harvest season. They also pray to their ancestors which they considered gods for good harvest.
Victory vs monster
There’s an interesting myth about firecrackers during Chinese New Year. According to one legend, there was a monster named Nian. It would come every New Year’s eve. Most people would hide in their houses but one boy was brave enough to fight him off using firecrackers. The next day, they celebrated their vicrory by setting off more firecrackers.
Drive away bad luck
Firecrackers are believed to scare off monsters and bad luck. So they stay up on Chinese New Year’s eve and set off firecrackers at midnight. That same night, families also burn fake paper money and printed gold bars in honor of their deceased loved ones. They believe the offerings will bring good fortune and good luck to their ancestors in the afterlife.
Longest Chinese holiday
The Spring Festival is technically 15 days but celebrations start on New Year’s eve making it 16 days. The holiday season starts in December with the Laba Festival. A total of around 40 days of celebration. Tradition dictates that you have to spend time with the family and can go out only after the fifth day. Large majority of stores are closed too. During the old times, people will buy nian huo or New Year’s products so they can stay together as a family.
Largest human migration
The most important part of Chinese New Year is the family reunion. Everyone should come back home for the New Year’s eve dinner. The migration back home is called chunyun or Spring Migration. In 2015, statistics showed that around 1,000 tickets were sold each second.
Fake girlfriend or boyfriend
Since having children and passing down the family name is one of the most important issue in the Chinese culture, some desperate singles resort to hire a fake boyfriend or girlfriend to take home to present to the family.
No showering, sweeping or throwing out garbage
Showering isn’t allowed on New Year’s Day same with sweeping and throwing out garbage before the fifth. This is to make sure that you don’t wash away the good luck.
Cleaning should be done a day before the Spring Festival to sweep the bad luck to make room for the good luck.
Taboos during Chinese New Year
Hair cutting is prohibited before Feb. 2. Using scissors, knives and other sharp objects are also prohibited same with swearing and arguing and saying unlucky words like death and sickness. They should also avoid breaking things.
Children receive lucky money in red envelopes
Gifts are also exchanged during the Spring Festival. Chinese children receive red envelopes also called red packets or pockets with money.
This money is supposed to help transfer fortune from the elders to the kids. They can also be given between bosses and employees, co-workers, and friends.
Chinese New Year desserts have special meanings
A lot cultures have symbolic foods, such as the Yule Log cake. But so many Chinese New Year desserts have special meanings behind them. And it’s mostly puns in the name.
Take the tangyuan for example. It literally means “soup balls.” But it sounds like tuanyuan, which means reunion. So it’s no surprise it’s a popular dessert during Chinese New Year.
Nian gao is a type of rice cake. It symbolizes success each and every year. Fa gao is a the hybrid of sponge cakes and muffins. People dye it festive colors. The fa is the same as in fa cai which means “to get rich.” And everyone wants that!