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Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. It is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. In China, schools and businesses can close for the first few days of the new year, so that everyone can spend time with their families.
What is interesting about Chinese New Year?
1. Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival. In China, the new year is called chunjie (春节), which means ‘Spring Festival’. Although it is still wintertime in China, it is called the ‘Spring Festival’ as it marks the end of the coldest days of winter, which is a sign of the coming spring season.
What are 5 facts about Chinese New Year?
8 Fun Facts about the Chinese New Year The Date Changes According to the Lunar Calendar. Fireworks Are Falling Out of Favour. The Chinese New Year is the Longest Chinese Holiday. Airports Are Busy. Fake Families Are a Thing. There are Some Interesting Taboos. Children are Given Money. Foods Have Meanings.
What are three facts about Chinese New Year?
10 Facts You Should Know about Chinese New Year The festival date changes every year. It is also called Spring Festival. Chinese New Year starts a new animal’s zodiac year. The celebration lasts for 15 days till Lantern Festival. One sixth of the world’s people celebrate it.
What is good luck for Chinese New Year?
Opening windows and/or doors is considered to bring in the good luck of the new year. Switching on the lights for the night is considered good luck to ‘scare away’ ghosts and spirits of misfortune that may compromise the luck and fortune of the New Year. Sweets are eaten to ensure the consumer a “sweet” year.
Can you spend money on Chinese New Year?
Money should not be lent on New Year’s Day, and all debts have to be paid by New Year’s Eve, and, if someone who owes you money, do not go to his or her home to demand it. Anyone who does so it is said will be unlucky all the year.
How is Chinese New Year determined?
The Chinese New Year coincides with the lunar calendar. On the lunar calendar, the first day of the month begins during the new moon. Because of this, the Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year. However, it does always fall between January 21 and February 21.
What do they eat on Chinese New Year?
The most common Chinese New Year foods include dumplings, fish, spring rolls, and niangao.
Why does Chinese New Year go for 15 days?
During the 15 day period new year visits (Traditional Chinese: 拜年; pinyin: bài nián, translated: pay respect, worship, salute the year) will be made to family and friends. The day symbolises as well a new start in one’s life, refreshing hopes for prosperity, wealth and happiness.
How long is Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, annual 15-day festival in China and Chinese communities around the world that begins with the new moon that occurs sometime between January 21 and February 20 according to Western calendars. Festivities last until the following full moon.
Is Chinese New Year always the same date?
Because it depends on the Moon, the date of Chinese New Year actually changes each year, but it will always fall some time between 21 January and 20 February. The festival starts on 12 February and lasts for up to 16 days. This year marks the change from the year of the Rat to the year of the Ox.
Are oranges good luck for Chinese New Year?
Oranges, kumquats, tangerines and pomelos are common Chinese New Year gifts because they’re believed to bring good luck and happiness. The Chinese words for “orange” and “tangerine” closely resemble the words for “luck” and “wealth.” The gold color of these fruits also symbolizes prosperity.
What shouldn’t you do on Chinese New Year?
Don’t: Swearing, saying words with negative meanings (e.g. death, poverty, ghosts) and bad-mouthing are things not to do on Chinese New Year as they will bring you bad luck all year long. The word “sì” for “4” is also considered a bad word since it sounds similar to “death” in Chinese.
Is cleaning on Chinese New Year Bad luck?
Clean post-New Year Cleaning of any kind on the first day is strictly forbidden. You cleaned your home to rid it of any bad luck before the New Year — now you want to be sure not to wipe, sweep or wash away any of the good luck that arrived at the stroke of midnight.
What color should you not wear on Chinese New Year?
Everyone loves the colour black because it flatters most body shapes. Unfortunately, it is a colour that you must never wear during the new year because black is typically worn during funerals. The colour has been associated with death, depression and all sorts of inauspicious things!.
Can I spend the money in my red envelope?
Yes, you could spend “lucky money” on a $398 beige Chinese New Year sheep-shaped clutch by Kate Spade. The red color of the envelope symbolizes wishing the recipient good luck; the money symbolizes the wish for good fortune for the next generation. It’s a gift for the young and unmarried.
Is it bad luck to reuse red envelopes?
Although the red envelopes are usually thrown away after the money has been taken out, some people keep various envelopes for its sentimental value, and others even reuse the envelopes. The most widely used contemporary function of the red envelopes is to give cash as a gift.
Why do we eat Chinese food on New Year’s Eve?
Somehow it’s become a tradition that people order Chinese food on Dec. 31. Food historians and local restaurant owners don’t know how or why, but one thing is clear: it’s the go-to meal for gatherings or quiet nights at home. Years ago lots of places were closed and Chinese restaurants were not.”Dec 31, 2011.
What should I wear for Chinese New Year?
Chinese usually wear red or other brightly-colored clothes on New Year’s Day, to go with the festive and upbeat mood. Black or white, symbolic of mourning and death would not be appropriate. Learn more about Lucky Colors in Chinese Culture.
How many oranges do you give for Chinese New Year?
Bring eight oranges (not eight bottles of booze, haha). If you get an email from someone you’ve never met, chances are, if there’s an “8” or “88” in the address, you’re dealing with someone Chinese.
