Chinese New Year is an annual celebration that begins with a new moon, lasts for 15 days, and is celebrated in China and Chinese communities across the world.
Also known as Lunar New Year, this epic festival is the highlight of the yearly calendar for billions of people.
Let’s take a closer look and learn everything you need to know about the Chinese New Year!
Chinese New Year 2023
Are you getting ready for the Chinese New Year 2023? It begins on January 22nd, so you don’t have long to wait.
What is this year’s animal, and what does it symbolize?
2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. The rabbit is one of the 12 symbols of the zodiac, all of which have their special attributes and characteristics.
The rabbit is the fourth symbol and is considered to be the luckiest one. It signifies beauty, elegance, and mercy, and it’s thought that people born under the sign of the rabbit are calm and peaceful.
When does the Chinese New Year 2023 start, and when does it end?
Chinese New Year 2023 starts on January 22nd. But unlike the western New Year, it doesn’t end at midnight, followed by a wave of hangovers, New Year’s resolutions, and gym memberships.
Celebrations continue for 15 days, ending on February 5th with the Lantern Festival.
Chinese New Year Celebrations
Chinese New Year celebrations vary by culture and region, but most trace their origins back to the story of villages being troubled by a mystical being known as Nian. This beast had the head of a lion and would feast on livestock and people, terrorizing small communities.
Fortunately, the villages scared the monster away using red banners, firecrackers, bright flares, drums, and other loud noises.
Why is Chinese New Year celebrated?
Red banners and flags are one of the most recognized symbols of the Lunar New Year celebrations, and fireworks are fired to commemorate the New Year celebrations. These traditions date back to the stories of Nian and the villages.
Lion and dragon dances are a part of cultural practices, and as with most major festivals, food plays a big role, as well. Many revelers also exchange gifts, including red envelopes filled with cash.
Lunar New Year is about eradicating the bad and welcoming the good –saying goodbye to the old and hello to the new. In that sense, it’s just like the new year celebrated in the west, as it’s all about transition. The difference is that it’s more closely tied to culture and tradition, lasts much longer, and involves many more festivities.
How is Chinese New Year celebrated across the world?
Family is one of the most important things about the Lunar New Year. Revelers travel for thousands of miles to be with their families. They eat with them, stay with them, and exchange gifts with them.
Billions are spent on gifts, food, and celebrations. In China, workers get a week off to celebrate the holiday, but that’s rarely the case in other parts of the world.
Celebrations are usually grand, but they can differ by region. For instance, in Vietnam, people clear their homes and decorate them with fresh flowers. In South Korea, it’s normal for people to give Spam as a gift, and they celebrate a 3-day festival known as Seollal.
In Mongolia, it’s all about worship during something they call Tsagaan sar or the “White Moon Festival.”
There are firework displays in the United States (the biggest of which is in New York). In parts of the UK, Chinese communities parade dragons through the streets.
There are largely Chinese and east Asian communities all over the world, and these groups usually get together to organize a celebration during Chinese New Year reminiscent of those in their home countries. You don’t have to be Chinese or even Asian to take part in these events, and recent years have seen many more westerners getting involved.
Everyone can appreciate good food and togetherness, and who doesn’t love a party?
How long do celebrations last?
Lunar New Year celebrations end with the Lantern Festival, which celebrates the full moon. The date of this festival changes according to the Gregorian calendar, but it lands on the 15th day of the Chinese lunisolar calendar.
As noted above, the 2023 Lunar New Year celebrations will run for 15 days and end on February 5th.
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