Chinese New Year

For other traditions of celebrating the Lunar New Year, see Lunar New Year. For the 1991 Chinese film, see The Spring Festival.
Chinese New Year
Also called Lunar New Year, Spring Festival
Observed by Chinese communities worldwide[1]
Korean Peninsula
Japan
Vietnam
Malaysia
Indonesia
Philippines
Singapore
Type Cultural, religious
(Chinese folk religion, Confucian)
Celebrations Lion dances, dragon dances, fireworks, family gathering, family meal, visiting friends and relatives (拜年, bàinián), giving red envelopes, decorating with chunlian.
Date Chinese lunar new year
2015 date Thursday, 19 February, Goat
2016 date Monday, 8 February, Monkey
2017 date Saturday, 28 January, Rooster
2018 date Friday, 16 February, Dog
Frequency Annual
Related to Lantern Festival, which concludes the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
Mongol New Year (Tsagaan Sar), Tibetan New Year (Losar), Japanese New Year (Shōgatsu), Korean New Year (Seollal), Vietnamese New Year– (Tết)
Chinese New Year

"Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)" in Traditional (top) and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
Traditional Chinese 春節
Simplified Chinese 春节
Literal meaning "Spring Festival"

Chinese New Year, known in modern Chinese as the "Spring Festival" (Chinese: 春节; pinyin: Chūn jié), is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Celebrations traditionally run from the evening preceding the first day, to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first calendar month. The first day of the New Year falls on the new moon between 21 January and 20 February.[2] In 2016, the first day of the Chinese New Year is on Monday, 8 February.[3]

The New Year festival is centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honour deities as well as ancestors.[4] Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, including Mainland China, Hong Kong,[5] Macau, Taiwan, Singapore,[6] Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius,[7] and the Philippines.[8][9] Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the lunar new year celebrations of its geographic neighbours.

Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese New Year vary widely. Often, the evening preceding Chinese New Year's Day is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly cleanse the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of "good fortune" or "happiness", "wealth", and "longevity". Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red paper envelopes.

Although the Chinese calendar traditionally does not use continuously numbered years, outside China its years are often numbered from the reign of the 3rd millennium BCE Yellow Emperor. But at least three different years numbered 1 are now used by various scholars, making the year beginning CE 2015 the "Chinese year" 4713, 4712, or 4652.[10]

Offerings to the gods.
House doorway decorated for the New Year.

Dates in Chinese Lunar Calendar

Chinese new year in Singapore Chinatown.
Chinese New Year eve in Meizhou on 8 February 2005.
Chinese new year in Japan
Temple at night illuminated with light from decorations
Southeast Asia's largest temple – Kek Lok Si in Penang, Malaysia – illuminated in preparation for the Lunar New Year.

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  1. ^ Helmer Aslaksen, "The Mathematics of the Chinese Calendar"
Main article: Chinese calendar

The lunisolar Chinese calendar determines the date of Chinese New Year. The calendar is also used in countries that have been influenced by, or have relations with, China – such as Korea, Japan and Vietnam.[11]

In the Gregorian calendar, Chinese Lunar New Year begins at the new moon that falls between 21 January and 20 February. In the Chinese calendar, winter solstice must occur in the 11th month, which means that Chinese New Year usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice (rarely the third if an intercalary month intervenes). In traditional Chinese Culture, lichun is a solar term marking the start of spring, which occurs about 4 or 5 February, which is the median date of Chinese New Year's Day. To determine whether a year has an intercalary month, one only needs to check whether Chinese New Year is within the month of January.

The Gregorian Calendar dates for Chinese New Year from 1912 to 2101 are below, along with the year's presiding animal zodiac and its Stem-branch. The traditional Chinese calendar follows a Metonic cycle (like the modern Jewish Calendar), and returns to the same date in Gregorian calendar roughly. The names of the Earthly Branches have no English counterparts and are not the Chinese translations of the animals. Alongside the 12-year cycle of the animal zodiac there is a 10-year cycle of heavenly stems. Each of the ten heavenly stems is associated with one of the five elements of Chinese astrology, namely: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The elements are rotated every two years while a yin and yang association alternates every year. The elements are thus distinguished: Yang Wood, Yin Wood, Yang Fire, Yin Fire, etc. These produce a combined cycle that repeats every 60 years. For example, the year of the Yang Fire Rat occurred in 1936 and in 1996, 60 years apart.

Many people inaccurately calculate their Chinese birth-year by converting it from their Gregorian birth-year. As the Chinese New Year starts in late January to mid-February, the previous Chinese year dates through 1 January until that day in the new Gregorian year, remaining unchanged from the previous Gregorian year. For example, the 1989 year of the Snake began on 6 February 1989. The year 1990 is generally aligned with the year of the Horse. However, the 1989 year of the Snake officially ended on 8 February 1990. This means that anyone born from 1 January to 7 February 1990 was actually born in the year of the Snake rather than the year of the Horse. Many online Chinese Sign calculators do not account for the non-alignment of the two calendars, using Gregorian-calendar years rather than official Chinese New Year dates.

One scheme of continuously numbered Chinese-calendar years assigns 4709 to the year beginning, 2011, but this is not universally accepted; the calendar is traditionally cyclical, not continuously numbered.

Gregorian Date Animal Day of the week Gregorian Date Animal Day of the week
2001 24 Jan Snake Wednesday 2026 17 Feb Horse Tuesday
2002 12 Feb Horse Tuesday 2027 6 Feb Goat Saturday
2003 1 Feb Goat Saturday 2028 26 Jan Monkey Wednesday
2004 22 Jan Monkey Thursday 2029 13 Feb Rooster Tuesday
2005 9 Feb Rooster Wednesday 2030 3 Feb Dog Sunday
2006 29 Jan Dog Sunday 2031 23 Jan Pig Thursday
2007 18 Feb Pig Sunday 2032 11 Feb Rat Wednesday
2008 7 Feb Rat Thursday 2033 31 Jan Ox Monday
2009 26 Jan Ox Monday 2034 19 Feb Tiger Sunday
2010 14 Feb Tiger Sunday 2035 8 Feb Rabbit Thursday
2011 3 Feb Rabbit Thursday 2036 28 Jan Dragon Monday
2012 23 Jan Dragon Monday 2037 15 Feb Snake Sunday
2013 10 Feb Snake Sunday 2038 4 Feb Horse Thursday
2014 31 Jan Horse Friday 2039 24 Jan Goat Monday
2015 19 Feb Goat Thursday 2040 12 Feb Monkey Sunday
2016 8 Feb Monkey Monday 2041 1 Feb Rooster Friday
2017 28 Jan Rooster Saturday 2042 22 Jan Dog Wednesday
2018 16 Feb Dog Friday 2043 10 Feb Pig Tuesday
2019 5 Feb Pig Tuesday 2044 30 Jan Rat Saturday
2020 25 Jan Rat Saturday 2045 17 Feb Ox Friday
2021 12 Feb Ox Friday 2046 6 Feb Tiger Tuesday
2022 1 Feb Tiger Tuesday 2047 26 Jan Rabbit Saturday
2023 22 Jan Rabbit Sunday 2048 14 Feb Dragon Friday
2024 10 Feb Dragon Saturday 2049 2 Feb Snake Tuesday
2025 29 Jan Snake Wednesday 2050 23 Jan Horse Sunday
Gregorian Date Animal Day of the week Gregorian Date Animal Day of the week
2051 11 Feb Goat Saturday 2076 5 Feb Monkey Wednesday
2052 1 Feb Monkey Thursday 2077 24 Jan Rooster Sunday
2053 19 Feb Rooster Wednesday 2078 12 Feb Dog Saturday
2054 8 Feb Dog Sunday 2079 2 Feb Pig Thursday
2055 28 Jan Pig Thursday 2080 22 Jan Rat Monday
2056 15 Feb Rat Tuesday 2081 9 Feb Ox Sunday
2057 4 Feb Ox Sunday 2082 29 Jan Tiger Thursday
2058 24 Jan Tiger Thursday 2083 17 Feb Rabbit Wednesday
2059 12 Feb Rabbit Wednesday 2084 6 Feb Dragon Sunday
2060 2 Feb Dragon Monday 2085 26 Jan Snake Friday
2061 21 Jan Snake Friday 2086 14 Feb Horse Thursday
2062 9 Feb Horse Thursday 2087 3 Feb Goat Monday
2063 29 Jan Goat Monday 2088 24 Jan Monkey Saturday
2064 17 Feb Monkey Sunday 2089 10 Feb Rooster Thursday
2065 5 Feb Rooster Thursday 2090 30 Jan Dog Monday
2066 26 Jan Dog Tuesday 2091 18 Feb Pig Sunday
2067 14 Feb Pig Monday 2092 7 Feb Rat Thursday
2068 3 Feb Rat Friday 2093 27 Jan Ox Tuesday
2069 23 Jan Ox Wednesday 2094 15 Feb Tiger Monday
2070 11 Feb Tiger Tuesday 2095 5 Feb Rabbit Saturday
2071 31 Jan Rabbit Saturday 2096 25 Jan Dragon Wednesday
2072 19 Feb Dragon Friday 2097 12 Feb Snake Tuesday
2073 7 Feb Snake Tuesday 2098 1 Feb Horse Saturday
2074 27 Jan Horse Saturday 2099 21 Jan Goat Wednesday
2075 15 Feb Goat Friday 2100 9 Feb Monkey Tuesday
The date of Chinese New Year's Day (1912–2101)
Year
Date
 1-19AM# 20-38AM 39-57AM 58-76AM 77-95AM 96-114AM 115-133AM 134-152AM 153-171AM 172-190AM
1912–1930 1931–1949 1950–1968 1969–1987 1988–2006 2007–2025 2026–2044 2045–2063 2064–2082 2083–2101
17 Feb Rat
Rènzǐ 		Goat
Xīnwèi 		Tiger
Gēngyín 		Rooster
Jǐyǒu 		Dragon
Wùchén 		Pig
Dīnghaì + 		Horse
Bíngwǔ 		Ox
Yǐchǒu 		Monkey
Jiǎshēn 		Rabbit
Guìmǎo
6 Feb Ox
Guìchǒu 		Monkey
Rènshēn 		Rabbit
Xīnmǎo 		Dog
Gēngxū 		Snake
Jǐsì 		Rat
Wùzǐ + 		Goat
Dīngwèi 		Tiger
Bíngyín 		Rooster
Yǐyǒu − 		Dragon
Jiǎchén
26 Jan Tiger
Jiǎyín 		Rooster
Guìyǒu 		Dragon
Rènchén + 		Pig
Xīnhaì + 		Horse
Gēngwǔ + 		Ox
Jǐchǒu 		Monkey
Wùshēn 		Rabbit
Dīngmǎo 		Dog
Bíngxū 		Snake
Yǐsì
14 Feb Rabbit
Yǐmǎo 		Dog
Jiǎxū 		Snake
Guìsì 		Rat
Rènzǐ + 		Goat
Xīnwèi + 		Tiger
Gēngyín 		Rooster
Jǐyǒu − 		Dragon
'Wùchén 		Pig
Dīnghaì 		Horse
Bíngwǔ
3 Feb Dragon
Bíngchén 		Pig
Yǐhaì + 		Horse
Jiǎwǔ 		Ox
Guìchǒu 		Monkey
Rènshēn + 		Rabbit
Xīnmǎo 		Dog
Gēngxū 		Snake
Jǐsì − 		Rat
Wùzǐ 		Goat
Dīngwèi
23 Jan Snake
Dīngsì 		Rat
Bíngzǐ + 		Goat
Yǐwèi + 		Tiger
Jiǎyín 		Rooster
Guìyǒu 		Dragon
Rènchén 		Pig
Xīnhaì 		Horse
Gēngwǔ 		Ox
Jǐchǒu 		Monkey
Wùshēn +
11 Feb Horse
Wùwǔ 		Ox
Dīngchǒu 		Monkey
Bíngshēn + 		Rabbit
Yǐmǎo 		Dog
Jiǎxū − 		Snake
Guìsì − 		Rat
Rènzǐ 		Goat
Xīnwèi 		Tiger
Gēngyín 		Rooster
Jǐyǒu −
31 Jan Goat
Jǐwèi + 		Tiger
Wùyín 		Rooster
Dīngyǒu 		Dragon
Bíngchén 		Pig
Yǐhaì 		Horse
Jiǎwǔ 		Ox
Guìchǒu 		Monkey
Rènshēn + 		Rabbit
Xīnmǎo 		Dog
Gēngxū −
19 Feb Monkey
Gēngshēn + 		Rabbit
Jǐmǎo 		Dog
Wùxū − 		Snake
Dīngsì − 		Rat
Bíngzǐ 		Goat
Yǐwèi 		Tiger
Jiǎyín 		Rooster
Guìyǒu 		Dragon
Rènchén 		Pig
Xīnhaì −
8 Feb Rooster
Xīnyǒu 		Dragon
Gēngchén 		Pig
Jǐhaì 		Horse
Wùwǔ − 		Ox
Dīngchǒu − 		Monkey
Bíngshēn 		Rabbit
Yǐmǎo 		Dog
Jiǎxū 		Snake
Guìsì − 		Rat
Rènzǐ −
28 Jan Dog
Rènxū 		Snake
Xīnsì − 		Rat
Gēngzǐ 		Goat
Jǐwèi 		Tiger
Wùyín 		Rooster
Dīngyǒu 		Dragon
Bíngchén 		Pig
Yǐhaì 		Horse
Jiǎwǔ − 		Ox
Guìchǒu −
15 Feb Pig
Guìhaì + 		Horse
Rènwǔ 		Ox
Xīnchǒu 		Monkey
Gēngshēn + 		Rabbit
Jǐmǎo + 		Dog
Wùxū + 		Snake
Dīngsì 		Rat
'Bíngzǐ 		Goat
Yǐwèi 		Tiger
Jiǎyín
5 Feb Rat
Jiǎzǐ 		Goat
Guìwèi 		Tiger
Rènyín 		Rooster
Xīnyǒu 		Dragon
Gēngchén 		Pig
Jǐhaì 		Horse
Wùwǔ − 		Ox
Dīngchǒu − 		Monkey
Bíngshēn 		Rabbit
Yǐmǎo
24 Jan Ox
Yǐchǒu 		Monkey
Jiǎshēn + 		Rabbit
Guìmǎo + 		Dog
Rènxū + 		Snake
Xīnsì 		Rat
Gēngzǐ + 		Goat
Jǐwèi 		Tiger
Wùyín 		Rooster
Dīngyǒu 		Dragon
Bíngchén +
12 Feb Tiger
Bíngyín + 		Rooster
Yǐyǒu + 		Dragon
Jiǎchén + 		Pig
Guìhaì + 		Horse
Rènwǔ 		Ox
Xīnchǒu 		Monkey
Gēngshēn 		Rabbit
Jǐmǎo 		Dog
Wùxū		 Snake
Dīngsì
2 Feb Rabbit
Dīngmǎo 		Dog
Bíngxū 		Snake
Yǐsì 		Rat
Jiǎzǐ 		Goat
Guìwèi − 		Tiger
Rènyín − 		Rooster
Xīnyǒu − 		Dragon
Gēngchén 		Pig
Jǐhaì 		Horse
Wùwǔ −
22 Jan Dragon
Wùchén + 		Pig
Dīnghaì 		Horse
Bíngwǔ − 		Ox
Yǐchǒu1 		Monkey
Jiǎshēn 		Rabbit
Guìmǎo 		Dog
Rènxū 		Snake
Xīnsì − 		Rat
Gēngzǐ 		Goat
Jǐwèi −
9 Feb Snake
Jǐsì + 		Rat
Wùzǐ + 		Goat
Dīngwèi 		Tiger
Bíngyín 		Rooster
Yǐyǒu 		Dragon
Jiǎchén + 		Pig
Guìhaì + 		Horse
Rènwǔ 		Ox
Xīnchǒu 		Monkey
Gēngshēn
29 Jan Horse
Gēngwǔ + 		Ox
Jǐchǒu 		Monkey
Wùshēn + 		Rabbit
Dīngmǎo 		Dog
Bíngxū 		Snake
Yǐsì 		Rat
Jiǎzǐ + 		Goat
Guìwèi 		Tiger
Rènyín 		Rooster
Xīnyǒu −
Note+: a day later; Note−: a day earlier. Note1: The New Year's Day of 1985 is 20 Feb, a month later. Note#: AM=anno Mínguó

Mythology

Hand-written Chinese New Year's poetry pasted on the sides of doors leading to people's homes, Lijiang, Yunnan

According to tales and legends, the beginning of the Chinese New Year started with a mythical beast called the Nian. Nian would eat villagers, especially children. One year, all the villagers decided to go hide from the beast. An old man appeared before the villagers went into hiding and said that he's going to stay the night, and decided to get revenge on the Nian. All the villagers thought he was insane. The old man put red papers up and set off firecrackers. The day after, the villagers came back to their town to see that nothing was destroyed. They assumed that the old man was a deity who came to save them. The villagers then understood that the Nian was afraid of the color red and loud noises. When the New Year was about to come, the villagers would wear red clothes, hang red lanterns, and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian. From then on, Nian never came to the village again. The Nian was eventually captured by Hongjun Laozu, an ancient Taoist monk. The Nian became Hongjun Laozu's mount.[12]

Public holiday

Chinese New Year is observed as a public holiday in a number of countries and territories where a sizable Chinese population resides. Since Chinese New Year falls on different dates on the Gregorian calendar every year on different days of the week, some of these governments opt to shift working days in order to accommodate a longer public holiday. In some countries, a statutory holiday is added on the following work day when the New Year falls on a weekend, as in the case of 2013, where the New Year's Eve (9 February) falls on Saturday and the New Year's Day (10 February) on Sunday.

Depending on the country, the holiday may be termed differently; common names are "Chinese New Year", "Lunar New Year", "New Year Festival", and "Spring Festival". For New Year celebrations that are lunar but not based on the Chinese New Year (such as Korea's Seollal and Vietnam's Tết), see the article on Lunar New Year.

Country Description Number of days
Brunei New Year's Eve (half-day) and New Year's Day.[13] 1
Hong Kong The first 3 days.[14] 3
Indonesia New Year's Day.[15][16] 1
Macau The first 3 days.[17] 3
Malaysia The first 2 days and a half-day New Year's Eve.[18][19] 2
People's Republic of China The first 3 days. Usually, the Saturday before and the Sunday after Chinese New Year are declared working days, and the 2 additionally gained holidays are added to the official 3 days of holiday, so that people have 7 consecutive days, including weekends. 19–21 February (de jure)[20]
3 (de facto)[21]
Philippines New Year's Day.[22][23] 1
Republic of China (Taiwan) New Year's Eve and the first 3 working days.[24][25] 4[26]
Singapore The first 2 days and a half-day New Year's Eve.[27][28] 2

Festivities

“ Red couplets and red lanterns are displayed on the door frames and light up the atmosphere. The air is filled with strong Chinese emotions. In stores in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, and other cities, products of traditional Chinese style have started to lead fashion trend[s]. Buy yourself a Chinese-style coat, get your kids tiger-head hats and shoes, and decorate your home with some beautiful red Chinese knots, then you will have an authentic Chinese-style Spring Festival. ”
— Xinwen Lianbo, January 2001, quoted by Li Ren, Imagining China in the Era of Global Consumerism and Local Consciousness[29]

Preceding days

On the eighth day of the lunar month prior to Chinese New Year, the Laba holiday (simplified Chinese: 腊八; traditional Chinese: 臘八; pinyin: làbā), a traditional porridge, Laba porridge (simplified Chinese: 腊八粥; traditional Chinese: 臘八粥; pinyin: làbā zhōu), is served in remembrance of an ancient festival, called La, that occurred shortly after the winter solstice.[30] Pickles such as Laba garlic, which turns green from vinegar, are also made on this day. For those that believe in Buddhism, the Laba holiday is also considered Bodhi Day. Layue (simplified Chinese: 腊月; traditional Chinese: 臘月; pinyin: Làyuè) is a term often associated with Chinese New Year as it refers to the sacrifices held in honor of the gods in the twelfth lunar month, hence the cured meats of Chinese New Year are known as larou (simplified Chinese: 腊肉; traditional Chinese: 臘肉; pinyin: làròu). The porridge was prepared by the women of the household at first light, with the first bowl offered to the family's ancestors and the household deities. Every member of the family was then served a bowl, with leftovers distributed to relatives and friends.[31] It's still served as a special breakfast on this day in some Chinese homes. The concept of the "La month" is similar to Advent in Christianity. Many families eat vegetarian on Chinese New Year eve, the garlic and preserved meat are eaten on Chinese New Year day.

On the days immediately before the New Year celebration, Chinese families give their homes a thorough cleaning. There is a Cantonese saying "Wash away the dirt on nin ya baat" (Chinese: 年廿八，洗邋遢; pinyin: nián niàn bā, xǐ lātà; Jyutping: nin4 jaa6 baat3, sai2 laap6 taap3 (laat6 taat3)), but the practice is not restricted to nin ya baat (the 28th day of month 12). It is believed the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck. Brooms and dust pans are put away on the first day so that the newly arrived good luck cannot be swept away. Some people give their homes, doors and window-frames a new coat of red paint; decorators and paper-hangers do a year-end rush of business prior to Chinese New Year.[32] Homes are often decorated with paper cutouts of Chinese auspicious phrases and couplets. Purchasing new clothing and shoes also symbolize a new start. Any hair cuts need to be completed before the New Year, as cutting hair on New Year is considered bad luck due to the homonymic nature of the word "hair" (fa) and the word for "prosperity". Businesses are expected to pay off all the debts outstanding for the year before the new year eve, extending to debts of gratitude. Thus it is a common practice to send gifts and rice to close business associates, and extended family members.

In many households where Buddhism or Taoism is prevalent, home altars and statues are cleaned thoroughly, and decorations used to adorn altars over the past year are taken down and burned a week before the new year starts, to be replaced with new decorations. Taoists (and Buddhists to a lesser extent) will also "send gods" (Chinese: 送神; pinyin: sòngshén), an example would be burning a paper effigy of Zao Jun the Kitchen God, the recorder of family functions. This is done so that the Kitchen God can report to the Jade Emperor of the family household's transgressions and good deeds. Families often offer sweet foods (such as candy) in order to "bribe" the deities into reporting good things about the family.

Prior to the Reunion Dinner, a prayer of thanksgiving is held to mark the safe passage of the previous year. Confucianists take the opportunity to remember their ancestors, and those who had lived before them are revered. Some people do not give a Buddhist prayer due to the influence of Christianity, with a Christian prayer offered instead.

The biggest event of any Chinese New Year's Eve is the Reunion Dinner, named as "Nian Ye Fan". A dish consisting of special meats is served at the tables of Chinese families, as a main course for the dinner and offering for the New Year. This meal is comparable to Thanksgiving dinner in the U.S. and remotely similar to Christmas dinner in other countries with a high percentage of Christians. In northern China, it is customary to make dumplings (jiaozi) after dinner to eat around midnight. Dumplings symbolize wealth because their shape resembles a Chinese sycee. By contrast, in the South, it is customary to make a glutinous new year cake (niangao) and send pieces of it as gifts to relatives and friends in the coming days of the new year. Niángāo [Pinyin] literally means "new year cake" with a homophonous meaning of "increasingly prosperous year in year out".[33] After dinner, some families go to local temples hours before the new year begins to pray for a prosperous new year by lighting the first incense of the year; however in modern practice, many households hold parties and even hold a countdown to the new year. Traditionally, firecrackers were once lit to scare away evil spirits with the household doors sealed, not to be reopened until the new morning in a ritual called "opening the door of fortune" (simplified Chinese: 开财门; traditional Chinese: 開財門; pinyin: kāicáimén).[34] Beginning in 1982, the CCTV New Year's Gala was broadcast four hours before the start of the New Year.

First day

The first day is for the welcoming of the deities of the heavens and earth, officially beginning at midnight. It is a traditional practice to light fireworks, burn bamboo sticks and firecrackers and to make as much of a din as possible to chase off the evil spirits as encapsulated by nian (Chinese: 年) of which the term guo nian (simplified Chinese: 过年; traditional Chinese: 過年; pinyin: guònián) was derived. Many people, especially Buddhists, abstain from meat consumption on the first day because it is believed that this will ensure longevity for them. Some consider lighting fires and using knives to be bad luck on New Year's Day, so all food to be consumed is cooked the days before. On this day, it is considered bad luck to use the broom.

Most importantly, the first day of Chinese New Year is a time to honor one's elders and families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended families, usually their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.

For Buddhists, the first day is also the birthday of Maitreya Bodhisattva (better known as the more familiar Budai Luohan), the Buddha-to-be. People also abstain from killing animals.

Lion Dance for Chinese New Year celebration in Surabaya, Indonesia

Some families may invite a lion dance troupe as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Chinese New Year as well as to evict bad spirits from the premises. Members of the family who are married also give red envelopes containing cash known as lai see (Cantonese dialect) or angpow (Hokkien dialect/Fujian), or "Hongpau" (Mandarin), a form of blessings and to suppress the aging and challenges associated with the coming year, to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers. Business managers also give bonuses through red packets to employees for good luck, smooth-sailing, good health and wealth.

While fireworks and firecrackers are traditionally very popular, some regions have banned them due to concerns over fire hazards. For this reason, various city governments (e.g., Kowloon, Beijing, Shanghai for a number of years) issued bans over fireworks and firecrackers in certain precincts of the city. As a substitute, large-scale fireworks display have been launched by governments in such city states as Hong Kong and Singapore. However, it is a tradition that the indigenous peoples of the walled villages of New Territories, Hong Kong are permitted to light firecrackers and launch fireworks in a limited scale.

Second day

Incense is burned at the graves of ancestors as part of the offering and prayer ritual.

The second day of the Chinese New Year, known as "beginning of the year" (simplified Chinese: 开年; traditional Chinese: 開年; pinyin: kāinián),[35] was when married daughters visited their birth parents, relatives and close friends. (Traditionally, married daughters didn't have the opportunity to visit their birth families frequently.)

During the days of imperial China, "beggars and other unemployed people circulate[d] from family to family, carrying a picture [of the God of Wealth] shouting, "Cai Shen dao!" [The God of Wealth has come!]."[36] Householders would respond with "lucky money" to reward the messengers. Business people of the Cantonese dialect group will hold a 'Hoi Nin' prayer to start their business on the 2nd day of Chinese New Year so they will be blessed with good luck and prosperity in their business for the year.

As this day is believed to be The Birthday of Che Kung, a deity worshipped in Hong Kong, worshippers go to Che Kung Temples to pray for his blessing. A representative from the government asks Che Kung about the city's fortune through kau cim.

Some believe that the second day is also the birthday of all dogs and remember them with special treats.

Third day

The third day is known as "red mouth" (Chinese: 赤口; pinyin: Chìkǒu). Chikou is also called "Chigou's Day" (Chinese: 赤狗日; pinyin: Chìgǒurì). Chigou, literally "red dog", is an epithet of "the God of Blazing Wrath" (Chinese: 熛怒之神; pinyin: Biāo nù zhī shén). Rural villagers continue the tradition of burning paper offerings over trash fires. It is considered an unlucky day to have guests or go visiting.[37][38] Hakka villagers in rural Hong Kong in the 1960s called it the Day of the Poor Devil and believed everyone should stay at home.[39] This is also considered a propitious day to visit the temple of the God of Wealth and have one's future told.

Fourth day

In those communities that celebrate Chinese New Year for 15 days, the fourth day is when corporate "spring dinners" kick off and business returns to normal. Other areas that have a longer Chinese New Year holiday will celebrate and welcome the gods in this day.

Fifth day

This day is the god of Wealth's birthday. In northern China, people eat jiaozi, or dumplings, on the morning of powu (Chinese: 破五; pinyin: pòwǔ). In Taiwan, businesses traditionally re-open on the next day (the sixth day), accompanied by firecrackers.

It is also common in China that on the 5th day people will shoot off firecrackers to get Guan Yu's attention, thus ensuring his favor and good fortune for the new year.[40]

Seventh day

The seventh day, traditionally known as Renri (the common person's birthday), is the day when everyone grows one year older. In some overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia and Singapore, it is also the day when tossed raw fish salad, yusheng, is eaten for continued wealth and prosperity.

For many Chinese Buddhists, this is another day to avoid meat, the seventh day commemorating the birth of Sakra, lord of the devas in Buddhist cosmology who is analogous to the Jade Emperor.

Chinese New Year's celebrations, on the eighth day, in the Metro Vancouver suburb of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

Eighth day

Another family dinner is held to celebrate the eve of the birth of the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven. People normally return to work by the eighth day, therefore the Store owners will host a lunch/dinner with their employees, thanking their employees for the work they have done for the whole year.

Approaching 12 midnight on this day, Hokkien people prepare for the "Jade Emperor ritual" (Hokkien: 拜天公 Pài Thiⁿ-kong) during which incense is burnt and food offerings made to the Jade Emperor and also to Zao Jun, the Kitchen god who reports on each family to the Jade Emperor.

Some people will hold a ritual prayer after midnight on the eighth day. In Malaysia, especially, people light fireworks, often more than on the first day.

This practice of Bai Ti Gong can also be seen in Singapore.

Ninth day

The ninth day of the New Year is a day for Chinese to offer prayers to the Jade Emperor of Heaven in the Daoist Pantheon.[41] The ninth day is traditionally the birthday of the Jade Emperor. This day, called Ti Kong Dan (Hokkien: 天公诞 Thiⁿ-kong Tan), Ti Kong Si (Hokkien: 天公生 Thiⁿ-kong Siⁿ) or Pai Ti Kong (Hokkien: 拜天公 Pài Thiⁿ-kong), is especially important to Hokkiens, even more important than the first day of the Chinese New Year.[42]

Come midnight of the eighth day of the new year, Hokkiens will offer thanks to the Emperor of Heaven. A prominent requisite offering is sugarcane.[42] Legend holds that the Hokkien were spared from a massacre by Japanese pirates by hiding in a sugarcane plantation during the eighth and ninth days of the Chinese New Year, coinciding with the Jade Emperor's birthday.[42] Since "sugarcane" (Hokkien: 甘蔗 kam-chià) is a near homonym to "thank you" (Hokkien: 感谢 kám-siā) in the Hokkien dialect, Hokkiens offer sugarcane on the eve of his birthday, symbolic of their gratitude.[42]

In the morning of this birthday (traditionally anytime from midnight to 7 am), Taiwanese households set up an altar table with 3 layers: one top (containing offertories of six vegetables (Chinese: 六斋; pinyin: liù zhāi), noodles, fruits, cakes, tangyuan, vegetable bowls, and unripe betel, all decorated with paper lanterns) and two lower levels (containing the five sacrifices and wines) to honor the deities below the Jade Emperor.[41] The household then kneels three times and kowtows nine times to pay obeisance and wish him a long life.[41]

Incense, tea, fruit, vegetarian food or roast pig, and gold paper is served as a customary protocol for paying respect to an honored person.

Tenth day

The Jade Emperor's party is celebrated on this day.

Thirteenth day

On the 13th day people will eat pure vegetarian food – in the belief that it will clean out their stomachs – due to consuming too much food over the preceding two weeks.

This day is dedicated to the General Guan Yu, also known as the Chinese God of War. Guan Yu was born in the Han dynasty and is considered the greatest general in Chinese history. He represents loyalty, strength, truth, and justice. According to history, he was tricked by the enemy and was beheaded.

Almost every organization and business in China will pray to Guan Yu on this day. Before his life ended, Guan Yu had won over one hundred battles and that is a goal that all businesses in China want to accomplish. In a way, people look at him as the God of Wealth or the God of Success.

Fifteenth day

The fifteenth day of the new year is celebrated as "Yuanxiao Festival" (simplified Chinese: 元宵节; traditional Chinese: 元宵節; pinyin: Yuán xiāo jié), also known as "Shangyuan Festival" (simplified Chinese: 上元节; traditional Chinese: 上元節; pinyin: Shàng yuán jié) or the Lantern Festival (otherwise known as Chap Goh Mei Chinese: 十五暝; pinyin: Shíwǔmíng; literally: "the fifteen night" in Fujian dialect). Rice dumplings tangyuan (simplified Chinese: 汤圆; traditional Chinese: 湯圓; pinyin: tang yuán), a sweet glutinous rice ball brewed in a soup, are eaten this day. Candles are lit outside houses as a way to guide wayward spirits home. This day is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, and families walk the street carrying lighted lanterns.

In China, Malaysia and Singapore, this day is celebrated by individuals seeking for a romantic partner, akin to Valentine's Day.[43] Normally, single women would write their contact number on mandarin oranges and throw it in a river or a lake while single men would collect them and eat the oranges. The taste is an indication of their possible love: sweet represents a good fate while sour represents a bad fate.

This day often marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities.

Traditional food

One version of niangao, Chinese New Year cake

A reunion dinner, named as "Nian Ye Fan", is held on New Year's Eve during which family members gather for celebration. The venue will usually be in or near the home of the most senior member of the family. The New Year's Eve dinner is very large and sumptuous and traditionally includes dishes of meat (namely, pork and chicken) and fish. Most reunion dinners also feature a communal hot pot as it is believed to signify the coming together of the family members for the meal. Most reunion dinners (particularly in the Southern regions) also prominently feature specialty meats (e.g. wax-cured meats like duck and Chinese sausage) and seafood (e.g. lobster and abalone) that are usually reserved for this and other special occasions during the remainder of the year. In most areas, fish (traditional Chinese: 魚; simplified Chinese: 鱼; pinyin: yú) is included, but not eaten completely (and the remainder is stored overnight), as the Chinese phrase "may there be surpluses every year" (traditional Chinese: 年年有餘; simplified Chinese: 年年有余; pinyin: niánnián yǒu yú) sounds the same as "let there be fish every year." Eight individual dishes are served to reflect the belief of good fortune associated with the number. If in the previous year a death was experienced in the family, seven dishes are served.

Red packets for the immediate family are sometimes distributed during the reunion dinner. These packets often contain money in certain numbers that reflect good luck and honorability. Several foods are consumed to usher in wealth, happiness, and good fortune. Several of the Chinese food names are homophones for words that also mean good things.

Like many other New Year dishes, certain ingredients also take special precedence over others as these ingredients also has similar sounding names with prosperity, good luck, or even counting money.

Food item Description
Buddha's delight An elaborate vegetarian dish served by Chinese families on the eve and the first day of the New Year. A type of black hair-like algae, pronounced "fat choy" in Cantonese, is also featured in the dish for its name, which sounds like "prosperity". Hakkas usually serve kiu nyuk (Chinese: 扣肉; pinyin: kòuròu) and ngiong teu fu.
Chicken Boiled chicken is served because it is figured that any family, no matter how humble their circumstances, can afford a chicken for Chinese New Year.
Fish Is usually eaten or merely displayed on the eve of Chinese New Year. The pronunciation of fish (魚yú) makes it a homophone for "surpluses"(餘yú).
Leek Is usually served in a dish with rondelles of Chinese sausage or Chinese cured meat during Chinese New Year. The pronunciation of leek (蒜苗/大蒜Suàn miáo/Dà suàn) makes it a homophone for "calculating (money)" (算Suàn). The Chinese cured meat is so chosen because it is traditionally the primary method for storing meat over the winter and the meat rondelles resemble coins.
Jau gok The main Chinese new year dumpling for Cantonese families. It is believed to resemble a sycee or yuánbǎo, the old Chinese gold and silver ingots, and to represent prosperity for the coming year.
Jiaozi The common dumpling eaten in northern China, also believed to resemble sycee.
Mandarin oranges Oranges, particularly mandarin oranges, are a common fruit during Chinese New Year. They are particularly associated with the festival in southern China, where its name is a homophone of the word for "luck" in dialects such as Teochew (in which 橘, jú, and 吉, jí, are both pronounced gik).[44]
Melon seed/Guazi
(Chinese: 瓜子; pinyin: guāzi)		 Other variations include sunflower, pumpkin and other seeds. It symbolizes fertility and having many children.
Niangao Most popular in eastern China (Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai) because its pronunciation is a homophone for "a more prosperous year (年高 lit. year high)". Nian gao is also popular in the Philippines because of its large Chinese population and is known as tikoy (Chinese: 甜粿, from Min Nan) there. Known as Chinese New Year pudding, nian gao is made up of glutinous rice flour, wheat starch, salt, water, and sugar. The color of the sugar used determines the color of the pudding (white or brown).
Noodles Families may serve uncut noodles (making them as long as they can[45]), which represent longevity and long life, though this practice is not limited to the new year.
Sweets Sweets and similar dried fruit goods are stored in a red or black Chinese candy box.
Rougan (Yok Gon) Chinese salty-sweet dried meat, akin to jerky, which is trimmed of the fat, sliced, marinated and then smoked for later consumption or as a gift.
Taro cakes (Chinese: 芋頭糕, yùtougāo) Made from the vegetable taro, the cakes are cut into squares and often fried.
Turnip cakes (Chinese: 蘿蔔糕, luóbogāo) A dish made of shredded radish and rice flour, usually fried and cut into small squares.
Yusheng or Yee sang (traditional Chinese: 魚生; simplified Chinese: 鱼生; pinyin: yúshēng) Raw fish salad. Eating this salad is said to bring good luck. This dish is usually eaten on the seventh day of the New Year, but may also be eaten throughout the period.

Practices

History

In 1928, the ruling Kuomintang party in China decreed that Chinese New Year will fall on 1 Jan of the Gregorian Calendar, but this was abandoned due to overwhelming opposition from the populace. In 1967 during the Cultural Revolution, official Chinese New Year celebrations were banned in China. The State Council of the People's Republic of China announced that the public should "Change Customs", have a "revolutionized and fighting Spring Festival", and since people needed to work on Chinese New Year Eve, they didn't have holidays during Spring Festival day. The public celebrations were reinstated by the time of the Chinese economic reform.[46]

Red envelopes

Red packets for sale in a market in Taipei, Taiwan, before the Year of the Rat
Shoppers at a New Year market in Chinatown, Singapore

Traditionally, red envelopes or red packets (Cantonese: lai sze or lai see; 利是, 利市 or 利事; Pinyin: lìshì; Mandarin: hóngbāo 红包; Hokkien: ang pow; POJ: âng-pau; Hakka: fung bao) are passed out during the Chinese New Year's celebrations, from married couples or the elderly to unmarried juniors. It is also common for adults or young couples to give red packets to children.

During this period, red packets are also known as 壓歲錢/压岁钱 (yàsuìqián, which was evolved from 壓祟錢/压祟钱, literally, "the money used to suppress or put down the evil spirit").[47]

Red packets almost always contain money, usually varying from a couple of dollars to several hundred. Per custom, the amount of money in the red packets should be of even numbers, as odd numbers are associated with cash given during funerals (帛金: báijīn). The number 8 is considered lucky (for its homophone for "wealth"), and $8 is commonly found in the red envelopes in the US. The number six (六, liù) is also very lucky as it sounds like "smooth" (流, liú), in the sense of having a smooth year. The number four (四) is the worst because its homophone is "death" (死). Sometimes chocolate coins are found in the red packets.

Odd and even numbers are determined by the first digit, rather than the last. Thirty and fifty, for example, are odd numbers, and are thus appropriate as funeral cash gifts. However, it is common and quite acceptable to have cash gifts in a red packet using a single bank note – with ten or fifty yuan bills used frequently. It is customary for the bills to be brand new printed money. Everything regarding the New Year has to be new in order to have good luck and fortune.

The act of asking for red packets is normally called (Mandarin): 讨紅包 tǎo-hóngbāo, 要利是 or (Cantonese): 逗利是. A married person would not turn down such a request as it would mean that he or she would be "out of luck" in the new year. Red packets are generally given by established married couples to the younger non-married children of the family. It is custom and polite for children to wish elders a happy new year and a year of happiness, health and good fortune before accepting the red envelope. Red envelopes are then kept under the pillow and slept on for seven nights after Chinese New Year before opening because that symbolizes good luck and fortune.

In Taiwan in 2000s, some employers also gave red packets as a bonus to maids, nurses or domestic workers from Southeast Asian countries, although whether this is appropriate is controversial.[48][49]

The Japanese have a similar tradition of giving money during the New Year, called Otoshidama.

Gift exchange

Chinese candy box

In addition to red envelopes, which are usually given from older people to younger people, small gifts (usually food or sweets) are also exchanged between friends or relatives (of different households) during Chinese New Year. Gifts are usually brought when visiting friends or relatives at their homes. Common gifts include fruits (typically oranges, and never pears), cakes, biscuits, chocolates, and candies.

Certain items should not be given, as they are considered taboo. Taboo gifts include:[50][51][52][53]

Markets

Markets or village fairs are set up as the New Year is approaching. These usually open-air markets feature new year related products such as flowers, toys, clothing, and even fireworks. It is convenient for people to buy gifts for their new year visits as well as their home decorations. In some places, the practice of shopping for the perfect plum tree is not dissimilar to the Western tradition of buying a Christmas tree.

Hong Kong filmmakers also release "New Year celebration films" (賀歲片), mostly comedies, at this time of year.

Fireworks

A Chinese man setting off fireworks during Chinese New Year in Shanghai.

Bamboo stems filled with gunpowder that were burnt to create small explosions were once used in ancient China to drive away evil spirits. In modern times, this method has eventually evolved into the use of firecrackers during the festive season. Firecrackers are usually strung on a long fused string so it can be hung down. Each firecracker is rolled up in red papers, as red is auspicious, with gunpowder in its core. Once ignited, the firecracker lets out a loud popping noise and, as they are usually strung together by the hundreds, the firecrackers are known for their deafening explosions that are thought to scare away evil spirits. The burning of firecrackers also signifies a joyful time of year and has become an integral aspect of Chinese New Year celebrations.[54]

Firecracker ban

The use of firecrackers, although a traditional part of celebration, has over the years led to many unfortunate outcomes. There have been reported incidents every year of users of fireworks being blinded, losing body parts, or suffering other grievous injuries, especially during the Chinese New Year season. Hence, many governments and authorities eventually enacted laws completely banning the use of firecrackers privately, primarily because of safety issues.

Music

"Happy New Year!" (Chinese: 新年好呀; pinyin: Xīn Nián Hǎo Ya; literally: "New Year's Good, Ya") is a popular children's song for the New Year holiday.[62] The melody is similar to the American folk song, Oh My Darling, Clementine. Due to the influence of "New Year's Day", others use Auld Lang Syne instead of this song.

Happy New Year! Happy New Year! (Chinese: 新年好呀！新年好呀！; pinyin: Xīnnián hǎo ya! Xīnnián hǎo ya!)
Happy New Year to you all! (Chinese: 祝贺大家新年好！; pinyin: Zhùhè dàjiā xīnnián hǎo!)
We are singing; we are dancing. (Chinese: 我们唱歌，我们跳舞。; pinyin: Wǒmen chànggē, wǒmen tiàowǔ.)
Happy New Year to you all! (Chinese: 祝贺大家新年好！; pinyin: Zhùhè dàjiā xīnnián hǎo!)

Clothing

Girls dressed in red (Hong Kong).

Clothing mainly featuring the color red or bright colors is commonly worn throughout the Chinese New Year because it was once believed that red could scare away evil spirits and bad fortune. In addition, people typically wear new clothes from head to toe to symbolize a new beginning in the new year. Wearing new clothes also symbolizes having more than enough things to use and wear in the new year. Red is a color of good luck.

Family portrait

The taking of a family portrait is an important ceremony after the relatives are gathered. The photo is taken at the hall of the house or taken in front of the house. The most senior male head of the family sits in the center.

Symbolism

See also: Fu character
An inverted character fu is a sign of arriving blessings.

As with all cultures, Chinese New Year traditions incorporate elements that are symbolic of deeper meaning. One common example of Chinese New Year symbolism is the red diamond-shaped fu characters (Chinese: 福; pinyin: fú; Cantonese Yale: fuk1; literally: "blessings, happiness"), which are displayed on the entrances of Chinese homes. This sign is usually seen hanging upside down, since the Chinese word dao (Chinese: 倒; pinyin: dào; literally: "upside down"), is homophonous or nearly homophonous with (Chinese: 到; pinyin: dào; literally: "arrive") in all varieties of Chinese. Therefore, it symbolizes the arrival of luck, happiness, and prosperity.

For the Cantonese-speaking people, if the fuk sign is hung upside down, the implied dao (upside down) sounds like the Cantonese word for "pour", producing "pour the luck [away]", which would usually symbolize bad luck; this is why the fuk character is not usually hung upside-down in Cantonese communities.

Red is the predominant color used in New Year celebrations. Red is the emblem of joy, and this color also symbolizes virtue, truth and sincerity. On the Chinese opera stage, a painted red face usually denotes a sacred or loyal personage and sometimes a great emperor. Candies, cakes, decorations and many things associated with the New Year and its ceremonies are colored red. The sound of the Chinese word for "red" (simplified Chinese: 红; traditional Chinese: 紅; pinyin: hóng; Cantonese Yale: hung4) is in Mandarin homophonous with the word for "prosperous". Therefore, red is an auspicious color and has an auspicious sound.

Nianhua

Chinese New Year festival in Chinatown, Boston

Nianhua can be a form of Chinese colored woodblock printing, for decoration during Chinese New Year.[63]

Flowers

The following are popular floral decorations for the New Year and are available at new year markets.

Floral Decor Meaning
Plum Blossom symbolizes luckiness
Kumquat symbolizes prosperity
Narcissus symbolizes prosperity
Bamboo a plant used for any time of year
Sunflower means to have a good year
Eggplant a plant to heal all of your sickness
Chom Mon Plant a plant which gives you tranquility

Icons and ornaments

Icons Meaning Illustrations
Lanterns These lanterns that differ from those of Mid Autumn Festival in general. They will be red in color and tend to be oval in shape. These are the traditional Chinese paper lanterns. Those lanterns, used on the fifteenth day of the Chinese New Year for the Lantern Festival, are bright, colorful, and in many different sizes and shapes.
Decorations Decorations generally convey a New Year greeting. They are not advertisements. Fai Chun—Chinese calligraphy of auspicious Chinese idioms on typically red posters—are hung on doorways and walls. Other decorations include a New year picture, Chinese knots, and papercutting and couplets.
Dragon dance and Lion dance Dragon and lion dances are common during Chinese New Year. It is believed that the loud beats of the drum and the deafening sounds of the cymbals together with the face of the Dragon or lion dancing aggressively can evict bad or evil spirits. Lion dances are also popular for opening of businesses in Hong Kong and Macau.
Fortune gods Cai Shen Ye, Che Kung, etc.

Spring travel

Scene of the 2009 Chunyun period inside Beijing West Railway Station
Main article: Chunyun

Traditionally, families gather together during the Chinese New Year. In modern China, migrant workers in China travel home to have reunion dinners with their families on Chinese New Year's Eve. Owing to the large number of interprovincial travellers, special arrangements were made by railways, buses and airlines starting from 15 days before the New Year's Day. This 40-day period is called chunyun, and is known as the world's largest annual migration.[64] More interurban trips are taken in mainland China in this period than the total population of China.

In Taiwan, spring travel is also a major event. The majority of transportation in western Taiwan is in a north-south direction: long distance travel between urbanized north and hometowns in rural south. Transportation in eastern Taiwan and that between Taiwan and its islands is less convenient. Cross-strait flights between Taiwan and mainland China began in 2003 as part of Three Links, mostly for "Taiwanese businessmen" to return to Taiwan for the new year.[65]

Festivities outside China

London: Chinatown with Chinese New Year decoration

Chinese New Year is also celebrated annually in many countries with significant Chinese populations. These include countries throughout Asia, Oceania, and North America. Both London[66] and San Francisco[67] claim to host the largest New Year celebration outside of Asia and South America.

Southeast Asia

In some countries of Southeast Asia, Chinese New Year is a national public holiday and considered to be one of the most important holidays of the year. Chinese New Year's Eve is typically a half-day holiday for Malaysia and Singapore.

The biggest celebrations take place in Malaysia (notably in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Klang) and Singapore.[68] In Sabah, Malaysia, the Dusun Tatana in Kuala Penyu also celebrate Chinese New Year, mixed with traditional customs of the native population.

Gaya Street in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia filled with Chinese lanterns during the New Year celebration.

Chinese New Year in Singapore is accompanied by various festive activities. One of the main highlights is the Chinatown celebrations. In 2010, this included a Festive Street Bazaar, nightly staged shows at Kreta Ayer Square and a lion dance competition.[69] The Chingay Parade also features prominently in the celebrations. It is an annual street parade in Singapore, well known for its colorful floats and wide variety of cultural performances.[70] The highlights of the Parade for 2011 include a Fire Party, multi-ethnic performances and an unprecedented travelling dance competition.[71]

Chinese New Year is considered to be the most important festival for Filipino-Chinese in the Philippines, and its celebration has also extended to the non-Chinese majority Filipinos. In 2012, Chinese New Year was included in public holidays in Philippines, which is only the New Year's Day itself.

Chinese New Year, officially named Tahun Baru Imlek,[72] has also been celebrated by Chinese-Indonesians since 1999 after President Suharto stepped down. It was declared as a 1-day public holiday in 2003 and the other two days were unofficial Chinese New Year holidays, celebrated by all Indonesians (2 days) and Chinese Indonesians (3 days).[73] Big Chinese population cities and towns like Jakarta, Medan, Singkawang, Pangkal Pinang, Bagansiapiapi, Selat Panjang, Batam, Ketapang and Pontianak always have its own New Year's celebration every years with parade and fireworks.

Australia and New Zealand

Melbourne: Chinese New Year in Chinatown

With one of the largest Chinese populations outside of Asia, Sydney also claims to have the largest Chinese New Year Celebrations outside of Asia with over 600,000 people attending the celebrations in Chinatown annually. The events there span over three weeks including the launch celebration, outdoor markets, evening street food stalls, Chinese top opera performances, dragon boat races, a film festival and multiple parades that incorporate Chinese, Japanese, Korean people and Vietnamese performers. More than 100,000 people attend notably the main parade with over 3,500 performers.[74] The festival also attracts international media coverage, reaching millions of viewers in Asia.[75][76] The festival in Sydney is organized in partnership with a different Chinese province each year.

The city of Wellington hosts a two-day weekend festival for Chinese New Year.[77]

North America

Chinese lunar new year in Washington DC

Many cities in North America sponsor official parades for Chinese New Year. Among the cities with such parades are San Francisco,[78] Los Angeles,[79] New York City,[80] Boston,[81] Chicago,[82] Mexico City,[83] Toronto, and Vancouver.[84] However, even smaller cities that are historically connected to Chinese immigration, such as Butte, Montana,[85] have recently hosted parades.

Multiple groups in New York City cooperate to sponsor a week-long Lunar New Year celebration. The festivities include cultural festival,[80] music concert,[86] fireworks on the Hudson River near the Chinese Consulate,[87] and special exhibits.[86] In June 2015, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared that the Lunar New Year would be made a public school holiday.[88]

California

Lion costume for New Year parade, Los Angeles, 1953

The San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade is the oldest and largest event of its kind outside of Asia, and the largest Asian cultural event in North America.

The festival incorporates Grant and Kearny Streets into its street festival and parade route, respectively. The use of these streets traces its lineage back to early parades beginning the custom in San Francisco. In 1849, with the discovery of gold and the ensuing California Gold Rush, over 50,000 people had come to San Francisco to seek their fortune or just a better way of life. Among those were many Chinese, who had come to work in the gold mines and on the railroad. By the 1860s, the residents of San Francisco's Chinatown were eager to share their culture with their fellow San Francisco residents who may have been unfamiliar with (or hostile towards) it. The organizers chose to showcase their culture by using a favorite American tradition – the parade. They invited a variety of other groups from the city to participate, and they marched down what today are Grant Avenue and Kearny Street carrying colorful flags, banners, lanterns, drums and firecrackers to drive away evil spirits.

In San Francisco, over 100 units participate in the annual Chinese New Year Parade held since 1958.[89] The parade is attended by some 500,000 people along with another 3 million TV viewers.[90]

Europe

In London, the celebrations take place throughout Chinatown, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square. Festivities include a parade, cultural feast, fireworks, concerts and performances.[91] The celebrations attract between 300,000 and 500,000 people according to the organisers.[92]

In Paris, the celebrations are held since the 1980s in several districts during one month with many performances[93] and the main of the three parades with 40 groups and 4,000 performers is attended alone by more than 200,000 people in the 13th arrondissement.[94][95]

Other parts of the world

Chinese New Year 2014 Celebration in Kolkata
The Chinese New Year celebrated in Kolkata
The Chinese New Year celebrated in Kolkata

Many celebrate the festival in Chinatown, Kolkata, India where a significant community of people of Chinese origin exists. In Kolkata, Chinese New Year is celebrated with lion and dragon dance.

In Pakistan, the Chinese New Year is also celebrated among the sizable Chinese expatriate community that lives in the country. During the festival, the Chinese embassy in Islamabad arranges various cultural events in which Pakistani arts and cultural organizations and members of the civil society also participate.[96][97][98][99][100]

Greetings

The Chinese New Year is often accompanied by loud, enthusiastic greetings, often referred to as 吉祥話 (jíxiánghùa) in Mandarin or 吉利說話 (Kat Lei Seut Wa) in Cantonese, loosely translated as auspicious words or phrases. New Year couplets printed in gold letters on bright red paper, referred to as chunlian (春聯) or fai chun (揮春), are another way of expressing auspicious new year wishes. They probably predate the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), but did not become widespread until then.[101] Today, they are ubiquitous with Chinese New Year.

Some of the most common greetings include:

Numerous other greetings exist, some of which may be exclaimed out loud to no one in particular in specific situations. For example, as breaking objects during the new year is considered inauspicious, one may then say 歲歲平安 (Suìsuì-píng'ān) immediately, which means "everlasting peace year after year". Suì (歲), meaning "age" is homophonous with 碎 (suì) (meaning "shatter"), in demonstration of the Chinese love for wordplay in auspicious phrases. Similarly, 年年有餘 (niánnián yǒu yú), a wish for surpluses and bountiful harvests every year, plays on the word yú that can also refer to 魚 (yú meaning fish), making it a catch phrase for fish-based Chinese new year dishes and for paintings or graphics of fish that are hung on walls or presented as gifts.

The most common auspicious greetings and sayings consist of four characters, such as the following:

These greetings or phrases may also be used just before children receive their red packets, when gifts are exchanged, when visiting temples, or even when tossing the shredded ingredients of yusheng particularly popular in Malaysia and Singapore. Children and their parents can also pray in the temple, in hopes of getting good blessings for the new year to come.

Children and teenagers sometimes jokingly use the phrase 恭喜發財,紅包拿來 (in Traditional Chinese; Simplified Chinese: 恭喜发财，红包拿来; Pinyin: gōngxǐfācái, hóngbāo nálái; Cantonese: 恭喜發財,利是逗來; English: usually written as Gong Hei Fat Choy, roughly translated as "Congratulations and be prosperous, now give me a red envelope!". In the Hakka dialect the saying is more commonly said as 'Gung hee fatt choy, hung bao diu loi' which would be written as 恭喜發財,紅包逗來 – a mixture of the Cantonese and Mandarin variants of the saying.

Back in the 1960s, children in Hong Kong used to say 恭喜發財,利是逗來,斗零唔愛 (Cantonese, Gung Hei Fat Choy, Lai Si Tau Loi, Tau Ling M Ngoi), which was recorded in the pop song Kowloon Hong Kong by Reynettes in 1966. Later in the 1970s, children in Hong Kong used the saying: 恭喜發財,利是逗來,伍毫嫌少,壹蚊唔愛 (Cantonese), roughly translated as, "Congratulations and be prosperous, now give me a red envelope, fifty cents is too little, don't want a dollar either." It basically meant that they disliked small change – coins which were called "hard substance" (Cantonese: 硬嘢). Instead, they wanted "soft substance" (Cantonese: 軟嘢), which was either a ten dollar or a twenty dollar note.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Asia welcomes lunar New Year". BBC. 1 February 2003. Retrieved 7 November 2008.
  2. ↑ And extremely rarely, 21 February, such as in 2033, the first occurrence since the 1645 calendar reform – Helmer Aslaksen, "The Mathematics of the Chinese Calendar"
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