At this very moment, millions of people around the world are busy preparing for one of the most important holidays of the year – the Lunar New Year, the first new moon of the lunar calendar.
If you’re new to Lunar New Year or need a refresher, this guide will cover some of the most common traditions associated with the holiday.
Although the Chinese zodiac is extremely complex, it is best described as a 12-year cycle represented by 12 different animals in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
Your personal zodiac sign is determined by the year you were born, which means that 2024 will bring lots of baby dragons. Babies born in 2025 will be baby snakes, and so on.
Believers believe that for each Chinese zodiac sign, luck is largely dependent on the position of the Tai Sui. Tai Sui is a collective name for the star gods that are believed to be parallel to Jupiter and rotate in the opposite direction.
Different Feng Shui masters may interpret the data differently, but there is usually a consensus on the meaning of each zodiac year based on the position of the stars.
There are countless folk tales associated with the Lunar New Year, but the myth of “Nian” is one of the most interesting.
Legend has it that the Nian Beast is a ferocious underwater monster with fangs and horns. Every New Year’s Eve, the Nian Beast emerges onto the land and attacks nearby villages.
One day, while the villagers were hiding, a mysterious old man appeared and insisted on staying despite warnings of impending disaster.
The man claimed to have scared off the Nian beast by hanging red banners on the door, setting off firecrackers and wearing red clothes.
That is why wearing fiery red clothes, hanging red banners, and setting off firecrackers or fireworks became Lunar New Year traditions that continue to this day.
Aside from the fun, Chinese New Year can actually be a lot of work. The celebration usually lasts 15 days, sometimes even longer, during which various tasks and activities are carried out.
Festive cakes and puddings are prepared on the 24th day of the last lunar month (February 3, 2024). Why? Cake and pudding are “gao” in Mandarin and “gou” in Cantonese, which is pronounced the same as “tall”.
Therefore, eating these foods is believed to bring progress and growth in the coming year. (If you haven’t made your own “dog” yet, here’s a simple recipe for carrot cake, a Lunar New Year favorite.)
Don’t forget our Year of Friends. Preparations for the Lunar New Year would not be complete without the aforementioned hanging of red flags with auspicious phrases and idioms (called Hui Chun in Cantonese and Spring Festival couplets in Mandarin) written on them, starting from the doorstep.
Not all preparation is fun. According to Lunar New Year tradition, on the 28th day of the lunar calendar (this year it is February 7), you should do a general cleaning of the house.
Don’t do any more cleaning until February 12th, otherwise all the good luck that comes with the start of the new year will disappear.
Also, some say that on the first day of the New Year you should not wash or cut your hair.
Why? Because “Fa” is the first letter of “Fa”. So washing or cutting your hair is like washing away your wealth.
You should also avoid buying shoes during the lunar month, as the word for “shoes” (haai) in Cantonese sounds like “lose and sigh.”
People usually have a grand dinner on the eve of the Lunar New Year, which falls on February 9 this year.
The menu has been carefully curated and includes dishes associated with good fortune, such as fish (pronounced “yu” in Chinese), pudding (a symbol of progress) and foods that resemble gold bars (such as dumplings).
In China, the food for these traditional dinners varies from north to south. For example, northerners love to eat dumplings and noodles, while southerners cannot live without rice.
The first few days of the Lunar New Year, especially the first two days, are often a test of stamina, appetite, and social skills as many people travel and visit immediate family, other relatives, and friends.
The bags are filled with gifts and fruits, ready to be distributed to visiting families. Visitors also receive many gifts after chatting over rice cakes.
Married people should also hand out red envelopes to unmarried people (including children and unmarried teenagers).
These envelopes, called red envelopes or red packets, are believed to ward off the evil spirit of the “year” and protect children.
The third day of the Lunar New Year (February 12, 2024) is called “Chikou”.
It is believed that quarrels are more common on this day, so people avoid social events and prefer to go to temples instead.
There, some will take the opportunity to make sacrifices to offset any potential bad luck. As mentioned earlier, for many people, the Lunar New Year is a time to consult their horoscope to see what to expect in the coming months.
Every year, certain Chinese zodiac signs come into conflict with astrology, so visiting the temple is considered a good way to resolve these conflicts and bring peace in the coming months.
The seventh day of the first lunar month (February 16, 2024) is said to be the day when the Chinese mother goddess Nuwa created mankind. Therefore, this day is called “renri/jan jat” (birthday of the people).
For example, Malaysians like to eat yusheng, a “fish dish” made from raw fish and shredded vegetables, while Cantonese eat sticky rice balls.
The Lantern Festival is the culmination of the entire Spring Festival, which takes place on the fifteenth and last day of the first lunar month (February 24, 2024).
Known in Chinese as the Lantern Festival, this festival is considered the perfect end to the weeks of preparation and celebration of the Lunar New Year.
The Lantern Festival celebrates the first full moon of the year, hence its name (Yuan means beginning and Xiao means night).
On this day, people light lanterns, which symbolizes the expulsion of darkness and hope for the coming year.
In ancient Chinese society, this day was the only day when girls could go out to admire the lanterns and meet young men, so it was also called “Chinese Valentine’s Day.”
Today, cities around the world still hold large lantern displays and markets on the last day of the Lantern Festival. Some Chinese cities, such as Chengdu, even host spectacular fire dragon dance performances.
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Post time: Jan-14-2025
