Chinese New Year: everything you need to know about the celebration

22-01-23

The Chinese celebrate the New Year on a different date, since they follow the lunar calendar. While in Western countries the official day is January 1, in China it is celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Therefore, every year, the date of the Chinese New Year is changed.

The Chinese calendar is based on the 12 cycles of the moon, about 354 days. Thus, in 2023, the year will begin on January 22 and end on February 9, 2024. During the commemoration period, millions of people travel across China, sometimes thousands of kilometers, to be with their families.

How do the Chinese prepare for Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year is a three-day holiday, but most stores and restaurants are closed for seven days. The celebration lasts two weeks and ends with the Lantern Festival. On the first day of the holiday, people go to temples to ask for prosperity.

The Chinese New Year festival is one of the most important and one of the biggest in the country. According to Chinese astrology, 2023 will be the year of the Rabbit under the influence of the water element. The Chinese have the custom of relating each year to different animals, a practice that originated in Buddhism.

Days before the beginning of the celebration, the Chinese begin to decorate the streets, buildings, stores and homes with red lights. It is also common to find red stripes on the entrance doors, as wishes for the coming months of the year are written on them with black ink.

In China, the date is marked by many traditions and superstitions of their culture. For this, the Chinese will welcome the year 4721 of the lunar calendar. As this year's animal is the Rabbit, symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity, the Chinese believe that this will be a year of great well-being.

How is the holiday celebrated in China?

Their New Year's Eve dinner tends to be considered the most important of the year. Thus, families gather at the home of the eldest member to enjoy the meal and enjoy together the Spring Festival, one of the most watched television programs in the country.

A very special tradition at this time of year is the exchange of gifts among family members, especially children, who receive money in bright red envelopes, bringing good luck. In addition, sweets, baskets and souvenirs are other gift-giving options.

There are also outdoor shows, parades, fireworks and other attractions. The main celebrations take place on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The Chinese believe that what is done in the early hours of New Year's Eve will influence the rest of the year. For this reason, the country values this holiday highly.

Which other countries celebrate the New Year like the Chinese do?

All of East Asia celebrates the New Year following the lunar calendar. In Vietnam, this day is called Tết Nguyên Đán, or Tết, which means First Morning of the First Day Festival. In North and South Korea, Seollal, which lasts three days, is celebrated. In Mongolia, the festival is called Tsagaan sar or White Moon Festival.

Other countries such as Hong Kong, Tibet, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, part of Japan and places with large Chinese populations celebrate similarly. The festival varies in each country, but they all have the same objective, with wishes of prosperity and hope.