CHINESE NEW YEAR: YEAR OF MONKEY

Another holiday is approaching in China! Yeayyy….. This time, it’s time to celebrate Chinese New Year. It’s the biggest festival for Chinese people. Let’s see how Chinese celebrate Chinese New Year!

The Lunar Calendar

If the world adopts the Julian calendar system, then China has its own calendar system. Chinese calendar system is based on the moon. Chinese people do not really celebrate the Jan 1 New Year, instead, they celebrate their own New Year which is different from ours. Chinese New Year date differs from year to year, depending on the moon. Its parameters were set according to the lunar phases as well as the solar solstices and equinoxes. Yin and yang, the opposing but complementary principles that make up a harmonious world, also ruled the calendar, as did the Chinese zodiac, the cycle of twelve stations or “signs” along the apparent path of the sun through the cosmos. Each new year was marked by the characteristics of one of the 12 zodiacal animals: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

The 12 Zodiacs

The Tradition

Red Colour

During Chinese New Year, Red is the main theme colour of the festival. It represents luck and is believed to ward away evil. People will wear all red, even for their underwear! If you have chance coming to China during the preparation for Chinese New Year period, you’ll find WalMart or Tesco sell everything red, including underwears.

Preparation of Chinese New Year

Wall of Red Pocket in Walmart

Firecrackers

Based on the legend, firecrackers are used to drive away the evil in China. Right after 12:00pm on New Year’s Eve, fireworks will be launched to celebrate the coming of the New Year as well as to drive away the evil. It is believed that the person who launched the first firework of the New Year will obtain good luck. If you stay in China during Chinese New Year, I guarantee you, you will hardly get any sleep after 12:00pm on the New Year Eve’s night. 1 firecracker stops, then other place will start their firecracker, and it continues till drop.

Firecrackers

Red Pockets or Hongbao

This is what children have been waiting for, red pockets! It’s the pocket with money inside… It was believed that the money in the red packet will suppress the evil from the children, keep them healthy, and give them a long life.

Children get Hongbao after saying XinNianKuaiLe (Happy New Year) to the elderly

New Year Eve’s Dinner

For Chinese people, it’s one of the most important elements of the festival. During Chinese New Year holiday (1 week long), people will go back to their hometown to celebrate with the whole families. Before the Chinese New Year holiday starts, usually, companies will hold their annual dinner together.

Family New Year Eve’s dinner

A “must served” Food

Fish is a “must served” food during Chinese New Year. It represents prosperity. Based on Chinese people’s believe, you cannot turn the fish upside down to eat the remaining. You have to carefully remove the bones to finally eat the whole fish.

Steamed Fish

Other “must served” foods during Chinese New Year are Tang Yuan (glutinous rice ball), Dumplings, and other family’s own preferences.

Dumplings

TangYuan with Black Sesame fillings

Chinese New Year In Other Countries

China is not the only one who celebrate this New Year. Let’s say Japan, Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, and Indonesia also celebrate this New Year, but not as big as the Julian Calendar New Year. Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia have lots Chinese ancestor citizens, that’s why, the tradition is still quite strong there, moreover Singapore. I strongly suggest you not to visit Singapore during Chinese New Year, because a lot of stores are closed at that time.

Using HanBok (Korean Traditional Clothes) children make a special Korean’s New Year bow to elderly

Final Words

Chinese New Year is a festival to bring family together. Many people in China leave their hometown to find a better job in the big cities. Due to their busy working schedule, they have no time to visit their family back in the village. Chinese New Year, is the time for them to visit and get back together with their family. That is the reason why Chinese New Year is important in China.