This is why fireworks and firecrackers are a huge part of the celebrations that take place across the globe. Another is wearing red in some form to ward off evil spirits. But the animals in the zodiac can slightly differ in other countries, like the Boar replacing the Pig in the zodiac in Japan and the dragon being substituted for a mythical creature, known as Naga, in Thailand. All animals were invited, but as a reward, the 12 who arrived and took part had a year named after them in the zodiac, with the race determining in which order the animals would be placed. According to the traditional legend of The Great Race, it was the Jade Emperor who organised a race which saw the 12 species take part.
What foods are traditionally eaten during Chinese New Year?
On Chinese New Year day, it is customary for Sino-Mauritians to share niangao with their relatives and friends and to light firecrackers to ward off evil spirits. While the family dinner was traditionally celebrated at the house of the oldest family members, going to restaurants for New Year’s Eve is getting more popular; some restaurants may have special dinners to foster the family reunions of Sino-Mauritians. Mauritius is also the only country in Africa that lists the Chinese Spring Festival as a statutory public holiday. 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. Observed by Thai Chinese and parts of the private sector, the festivities occur over three days, starting on the day before Chinese New Year’s Eve.
The monster was afraid of loud noises, bright lights, and the color red, so those things were used to chase the beast away. They probably predate the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), but did not become widespread until then. 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 wishes for an auspicious new year. Chinese New Year is often accompanied by loud, enthusiastic greetings, often referred to as 吉祥話 (jíxiánghuà) in Mandarin or 吉利說話 (Kat Lei Seut Wa) in Cantonese, loosely translated as “auspicious words or phrases”. In Budapest, celebrations have been held since 2017 in the Kőbánya district with many parades and performances. The largest of three parades has around 40 groups and 4,000 performers and is attended by more than 200,000 people in the 13th arrondissement.
Who was the Monster Nian?
Suddenly, the doors and windows were blown open by a strange wind, and even the candlelight was extinguished. The fever would eventually cause the child to have intellectual disabilities. In the mid-2010s, Chinese messaging apps such as WeChat popularized the distribution of red envelopes in a virtual format via mobile payments, usually within group chats.
Sixth day
To protect themselves, they hung red decorations and lit firecrackers to scare the monster away. One year, the villagers discovered that Nian feared the color red and loud noises. This festival is celebrated worldwide, particularly in Asian countries like China. In 2026, Lunar New Year falls on February 17th, kicking off the 16-day Spring Festival. Celebrated by millions around the world, this is a time for cultural traditions, family reunions, and hopes for good fortune in the coming year.
Some companies and public institutions enjoy a longer holiday up to 10 days or more, because in common knowledge among Chinese people, the festival lasts longer, from the Lunar New Year’s Eve to the 15th day of the first lunar month (Lantern Festival). The legal holiday is seven days long, from the Lunar New Year’s Eve to the sixth day of the first lunar month. One is that you shouldn’t clean at the start of the holiday, as it is believed you could remove any fortune or luck that you have at home from the new lunar cycle. On the first day of the first lunar month, people wear new clothes, symbolizing the departure of the old and the arrival of the new, the removal of bad luck, and the blessing of good health and good fortune for the coming year.
- Since 1873, the official Japanese New Year has been celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, on 1 January of each year, New Year’s Day (元日, Ganjitsu).
- This festival is celebrated worldwide, particularly in Asian countries like China.
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- It is also recorded that people linked the firecrackers with hemp rope and created the bian pao (鞭炮, “gunpowder whip”) in the Song dynasty.
- The horse stands as a revered symbol of freedom, vitality, and unbridled ambition.
- Using the broom, swearing, and breaking any dinnerware without appeasing the deities are also considered taboo.
The first day of the Chinese New Year falls on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February.a Chinese New Year dates vary slightly between years, but it usually comes during the period from January 21st to February 20th in Gregorian calendar. The Chinese New Year of 2026 falls on February 17th (Tuesday), and will last to February 21th.
Giving Chinese New Year Red Envelope (红包)
- The Little Saigon area has hosted Tet celebrations since 1982 for its Chinese and Vietnamese communities.
- In mainland China, the New Year’s Gala is broadcast by every TV station, featuring traditional performances and a message by the president.
- From then on, every New Year’s Eve, every household would stick red couplets and set off firecrackers; make candles burning brightly all night and keep watch for the New Year.
- Because it marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year and coincides with the return of spring and the revival of all things, people name it “Spring Festival”.
- The dates of the celebration follow the Chinese lunisolar calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar.
- In many families, married people are expected to give out red packets filled with money to those who haven’t yet tied the knot — both children and unmarried juniors.
- It evolved into the practice of cleaning one’s house thoroughly in the days preceding the Chinese New Year.
The fifth day of the new year is dedicated to welcoming Cai Shen, the God of Wealth. When visiting, it’s customary to bring gifts, such as fruits or beverages, and exchange greetings like Gong Xi Fa Cai (wishing you prosperity) and Guo Nian Hao (happy new year). In the past, the gesture behind the red pockets was more important than the amount of money inside. A key part of this tradition is the exchange of Hong Bao (red envelopes), which carry good wishes.
The day before Chinese New Year is usually accompanied by a dinner feast, consisting of special meats as a main course and an offering for Ringospin Casino the New Year. Families often offer sweet foods (such as candy) to “bribe” the deities into reporting good things about the family. This is done so that the Kitchen God can report to the Jade Emperor of the family household’s transgressions and good deeds. It is still served as a special breakfast on this day in some Chinese homes. Every member of the family was then served a bowl, with leftovers distributed to relatives and friends. Pickles such as Laba garlic, which turns green from vinegar, are made on this day.
What is the meaning behind giving red envelopes (hongbao)?
The Chinese lunar calendar operates on a 12-year zodiac cycle, with each year represented by an animal. Crisp, golden spring rolls mirror ancient gold bars, symbolizing wealth, and bright citrus fruits such as oranges and tangerines are shared because their round shape and color evoke fullness, success, and good luck. Sticky rice cakes called nian gao are commonly consumed, because their name means “high year,” implying steady progress and success in whatever one pursues. The last event held during the Chinese New Year is called the Lantern Festival, during which people hang glowing lanterns in temples or carry them during a nighttime parade. The holiday is sometimes called the Lunar New Year because the dates of celebration follow the phases of the moon.
Reunion dinners (particularly in the Southern regions) may prominently feature specialty meats (e.g. wax-cured meats such as duck and Chinese sausage) and seafood (e.g. lobster and abalone) that are usually reserved for special occasions. The New Year’s Eve dinner is very large and sumptuous and traditionally includes dishes of meat (namely, pork and chicken) and fish. The venue will usually be in or near the home of the most senior member of the family. A reunion dinner is held on New Year’s Eve, during which family members gather for a celebration. In China and Malaysia, this day is celebrated by individuals seeking a romantic partner, akin to Valentine’s Day. 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.
In June 2015, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared that the Lunar New Year would be made a public school holiday, and in September 2023, New York State made Lunar New Year a mandatory public school holiday. Meanwhile, Wellington hosts a two-day weekend festival for Chinese New Year, and a one-day festival is held in Dunedin, centred on the city’s Chinese gardens. For 2021 (for one year only), the government declared the Chinese New Year a government holiday. Through a presidential decree it was officially declared as a one-day public holiday as of 9 April 2002 by President Megawati. It was celebrated as one of the official national religious holidays by Chinese Indonesians from 18 June 1946 to 1 January 1953 through a government regulation signed by President Sukarno on 18 June 1946.
At the heart of Lunar New Year celebrations is the reunion dinner on Lunar New Year’s Eve, which falls on February 16th, 2026. Red is the dominant color for decorations, which include red lanterns, paper cuttings, Spring Festival couplets, and strings of chili peppers. The phrase Guo Nian, meaning “celebrating the new year” in Chinese, evokes warm feelings of family reunions.
As one of the twelve traditional zodiac animals in Chinese culture, the Horse corresponds to the Earthly Branch ‘Wu’ and appears in a twelve-year cyclical pattern within the traditional calendar system. The first and second days of the Lunar New Year are reserved for visiting family and friends. For those born in a Horse year, 2026 is their Ben Ming Nian—a year traditionally believed to bring bad luck due to a clash with Tai Sui, the God of Age. Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, marks the start of a new zodiac cycle based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Nowadays, cities worldwide still put on massive lantern displays and fairs on the festival’s final day.