things you didn’t know about the chinese new year
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Things T hings You Didn’t Know About the Chinese New Year
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The Chinese New Year is a celebration of the beginning of a new year based on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. The celebration takes place on the day of the new moon, which falls on February 1 this year. All over the world, people come together to usher in a blessed new year. Here are 10 facts from the Wasai Brand Studio about the Chinese New Year to help welcome new beginnings!
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e Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival. Although it is Th largely still cold outside, the Chinese New Year marks the end of the coldest months. As the land begins to thaw, those celebrating prepare for the planting and harvesting of new crops for the year. The holiday is also called the Spring Festival because it signals the beginning of the new season, and new opportunities.
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ere is no set date for the Chinese New Year. Unlike holidays in the U.S., the Th Chinese New Year does not fall on the same date every year. Although today’s celebrations begin on the 1st of February, the beginning of the holiday could fall anywhere between January 21 to February 20. Based on the lunar calendar, the holiday begins during the new moon, and lasts for 15 days — or until the full moon. e most fireworks are set off in the world that night. If you thought the Th Fourth of July was exciting, wait until you see fireworks for the Chinese New Year! Firecrackers and fireworks are set off every year to cast away evil spirits and celebrate the new year. Thousands of fireworks are fired on the first and last day of the festival, and anywhere in between.
ere is no showering, sweeping or throwing out garbage during the Th Chinese New Year. In order to hold onto your good luck, you’ll want to take this advice. Washing and cleaning during the Chinese New Year could wash away all of the good luck for the new year! The day before the Spring Festival, you should clean out the bad spirits to let in the good ones during the celebration. You should also avoid arguing, using sharp objects and breaking things. hinese New Year desserts each have special meanings. Like the yule log, there are C a lot of Chinese New Year desserts that have meanings behind them, and they can be found in the names. For instance, tangyuan means “soup balls,” but it sounds like the word used for reunion. Those celebrating enjoy eating desserts that signify luck. e Chinese decorate everything in red during the celebration. During the Chinese Th New Year, every house you’ll pass by is decked out in red decorations. From the living room to the kitchen — and even the bathrooms — red decorations are used to scare away monsters and bad spirits. Red is a weapon used in almost every household during the celebrations. From the lanterns to the clothing, the red decorations protect everyone. ach year has a zodiac animal. There are 21 Chinese zodiacs, and one is represented E each year. This year is the Year of the Ox, and those born in Ox years have blessings bestowed upon them for the year. Your zodiac animal plays a large role in your life, influencing your relationships, career, health and much more! ed envelopes are used to give others lucky money. In sticking to the red theme, R gifts are exchanged during the Chinese New Year in the form of red envelopes stuffed with money. Traditionally, family elders will give these envelopes to children to pass on family wealth. Today, these red envelopes are sometimes traded digitally, and can be given to coworkers, friends and loved ones.
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e Chinese New Year ends with the Lantern Festival. The last day of Th the Chinese New Year is marked by the first full moon of the year. On this day, Chinese communities celebrate the Lantern Festival, a night full of partying and freedom. At night, people go out to gaze at the moon, hang out with their friends and marvel out the beautiful lanterns.
I t is the longest Chinese holiday. Since it’s the longest-running national holiday, many people have to stock up on food, decorations and supplies before the Chinese New Year. In China, for over two weeks, the majority of all restaurants, retail locations, grocery stores and even convenience stores are closed.
Feb 2022
+ forward magazine
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