New Year in China is a celebration of the imminent arrival of spring and the start of sowing. It is celebrated according to the lunar calendar. There is no fixed date for the New Year in China. This holiday is the longest in the country. It symbolizes the beginning of the awakening of nature after winter and the beginning of the life cycle of each person and the whole country.
About the specifics of the holiday
New Year in China lasts 2 weeks. Fireworks, bright concerts with performances by famous artists, congratulations and gifts - all this happens the same way as in all other countries of the world.
New Year in this country is interesting in symbolism: 12 animals correspond to certain years and are talismans. In some countries, they are happy to follow the Chinese traditions, using animal symbols corresponding to each year.
What date is Chinese New Year
This holiday occurs between January 12 and February 19, depending on the lunar cycle. For Russians who are accustomed to the Gregorian calendar, the calendar date of the New Year in China seems random. The Chinese associate this holiday with the first new moon inyear following the winter solstice. In China, after the culture of the West penetrated into Asia, the New Year began to be called Chunjie, that is, the Spring Festival.
About the history of the holiday
Chinese New Year has been celebrated for thousands of years. The history goes back centuries to the rites of sacrifice and the cult of commemoration of ancestors. The holiday is associated with the era of the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 BC). Then the tradition was born to give a red envelope filled with money to all the children who entered the house.
In mythology
New Year in China is associated with the legend of the horned monster Nian. All year he lives at the bottom of the sea. And only once Nian crawls ashore, eating domestic animals and food supplies, scaring away the villagers. The monster was only afraid of the red color. The savior from the monster in one version of the legend is a child, in another - an old sage.
According to mythology, a rich table protects from a monster, which can feed him to his full. Based on this fact, the New Year in China is usually celebrated with a variety of delicious dishes. The Chinese also put up red posters with congratulatory inscriptions, which depict the golden character Fu, which means “welfare.”
New Year 2018
What date is Chinese New Year? In 2018, the Spring Festival begins on February 16th. As usual, the holiday will last 2 weeks. Although earlier the Chinese celebrated the New Year for almost a whole month! But, in obedience to the business regime, the country decided to reduce the number of daysrecreation. The traditions of the New Year in China require the whole family to gather at the festive table. The Chinese believe that dead ancestors celebrate this holiday together with the living. Therefore, it is also called "Meeting after parting."
The Earth Dog will be the patroness of this year. She will replace the Fire Rooster. Peace, goodness and tranquility are expected from the Dog in all spheres of life. To properly meet her, you need to know her character and habits. The element of the Dog is the Earth, which is responsible for the balance of relationships and the stability of life. The Fire Rooster will carry away violent passions. They will be replaced by the desire for peace. The dog is honest, loyal, loyal, friendly, although, on the other hand, it can be unpredictable.
How to prepare for the holiday
The Chinese, following the tradition, throw away their old clothes, do a general cleaning, thus letting positive energy into their home. When the holiday comes, brooms, mops and rags should be hidden. In China, it is believed that the settling dust on the holiday symbolizes good luck. Whoever cleans up on New Year's Eve runs the risk of losing happiness.
On the eve of the holiday, people not only carry out a thorough cleaning in their homes, but also hang a red cloth with a golden image of the character Fu in a straight or upside down form on the door. And in the kitchen they hang the image of the “sweet god”. Before the holiday, women generously smear his lips with sugar syrup or honey so that he, having gone to heaven to report on human behavior, could speakonly kind words.
Festive table
In different areas of China, there are different traditions of New Year's table setting. However, they are united by the fact that dumplings are one of the main dishes. They symbolize prosperity, abundance and prosperity. Dumplings are made by all family members. In China, New Year's dumplings are often shaped like ancient precious ingots. In one dumpling, the Chinese put a coin. The lucky one who gets it will be lucky all next year.
There should be more than 20 dishes on the table, among which chicken, fish, beef, pork and duck must be present. In families with a good income, all these dishes are present. Poor families put only 1 meat dish on the table, even though no one eats it, so that the neighbors can see that they are able to afford it.
On the eve of the holiday, they cook pork sausage, which is dried on the street.
Also very popular are tangerines, which symbolize the rebirth of life. There should be 8 of them on the table - the number of infinity.
About traditions
Spring Festival in China is celebrated in the family circle. New Year's celebrations are long enough, so the Chinese have time to see all their relatives.
Interesting fact: the Chinese don't have holidays. It turns out that New Year's weekend is the only chance to travel. One can only guess how crowded there are in the 2 weeks after the holiday in popular tourist destinations in China.
People love to participate in traditional entertainment and processions. ATNew Year's holidays, a festival of lanterns is held, as well as the launch of crackers. Undoubtedly, the main decoration of the holiday are the dances of dragons - giant bright dolls of fabulous monsters. This action attracts a large number of tourists to China. How is New Year celebrated in China? Of course, as in all other corners of the planet: bright and cheerful.
In China, there is a rather strange tradition: in order to scare away trouble and attract success, people wear red underwear for the holiday, which appears in large quantities on store shelves on New Year's Eve.
Superstition breeds tradition. Even the launching of firecrackers and fireworks is a tradition that has its origins in ancient China. So it was customary to scare away evil spirits that, on the eve of the New Year holiday, strive to enter people's houses. The Chinese have a special love for fireworks. Therefore, they decorate them with a magical glow for any celebration.
Gifts
Chinese people give their loved ones such gifts that symbolize family unity and harmony: mugs, paired vases, hongbao (red envelopes with money), niangao (rice cookies). The Chinese also give gifts such as fruits, clothes, cosmetics, perfumes to their friends and relatives. In China, it is generally accepted that gifts should be useful. And do not hesitate to present the essentials. But gifts of ties, necklaces and belts are seen as a suggestion of an intimate relationship.
The gift box is mostly red or gold, because it isthese colors will bring good luck and we alth.
When the first day of the year arrives, the Chinese people pay visits to friends and relatives. They bring gifts with them, based on practicality: cigarettes, alcohol, bottles of vegetable oil or packages of milk.
Hongbao is usually given either to children or the elderly. The amount put in the envelope depends on the financial situation of the giver, as well as the status of the recipient. The older a person is, the more money they give. Only new banknotes are placed, as old banknotes are considered a sign of disrespect. But it must include the number 8, which, according to any Chinese, is a lucky number.
Chinese people are sure: it is impossible to wish Happy New Year to those families who buried a loved one less than a month ago. According to legend, this will bring a repeated repetition of such misfortune in the near future.
When receiving and giving a gift, the Chinese use both hands as it expresses mutual respect.
