"Gung hay faht choy!" or – Happy Chinese New Year!
It’s that time of year again when pandemonium and commotion begins to spread throughout my house: cleaning galore, gifts of red and gold appearing everywhere, a healthy dose superstition, guests and family visiting, new everything and food of all kinds cluttering every table in the vicinity.
You’d think I was talking about Christmas! Follow with us at tripatlas.com/new as we share with you through the origins of Chinese New Year and what rituals and celebrations are taking place all over the world. More about world celebrations and festivals? Read up on the tasty Pancake Day Celebrations or read about the Turkey Testicle Festival in Illinois.
Origins of the Festival
The Chinese New Year Festival is said to have legendary and mythical origins in ancient China (records which date back to 16 century BC). It was said that once a year, a man-eating beast – the Nian – would come out to prey on humans. People believed that loud noises and the color red would scare it away. Thus, firecrackers, drums, dragon dances, and today, elaborate decorations, furniture, gifts, candies, and envelopes of red, are symbols of both protection and good fortune.
In 2009, Chinese New Year falls on Monday, January 26 and it will be the Year of the Ox. The celebration is based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar at the beginning of a new moon cycle and is speculated to have been celebrated as early as the 16 to 2 century BC. Today it is celebrated in China, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and other countries that have a large Chinese population.
Celebrations & Rituals
Cleaning! Before the New Year, Chinese families clean their homes from top to bottom. Cleaning and washing away the dirt and garbage in the house is symbolic of washing away the past year’s bad luck or misfortune. It also allows for a new fresh start for the coming year. New dishes, chopsticks, appliances, and furniture are bought for this time, as well.
Lots and lots of Food. A Chinese celebration is not a real one unless it involves a lot of food – wedding banquets usually have 10 courses – and Chinese New Years is definitely no exception. The excess amount of food is significant of good fortune and surplus for the coming year. Special snacks like nuts, fruits, seeds, as well as noodles, fish, dumplings, and special taro or turnip cakes are staples during the celebration.
Reunions and Visits. It is customary to visit and wish luck, bring gifts, and offer red packets (see below) to family and family friends at New Years. On New Years Eve, the entire clan usually gathers at the eldest family member’s home to celebrate to usher in the New Year with a large dinner.
Red Packets. As a child, my favourite part of Chinese New Year was receiving small "red packets" or envelopes with gold writing that contained money, usually crisp new bills from the bank. These are given by adults and elders to the younger unmarried members of the family. They can contain a couple of dollars up to hundreds of dollars, and should always be an even amount, since odd amounts are given at funerals. These packages are given to reflect good luck, wealth, and honour.
Fun Stuff. There are often celebrations all throughout the Chinese community during New Years. You’ll find restaurants packed to the rim, cultural music and dance, dragon dances, stores offering specials, markets selling all New Years items, and decorations everywhere. Signs with Chinese symbols of luck are hung in public spaces and in homes, as well as lanterns, small figurines, and firecrackers. Visit your local Chinatown during these few days to take part in the festivities!
Zodiac Signs. New Years also signals the start of a new zodiac year in Chinese astrology. There are 12 signs, each that relate to an animal and its characteristics. This year will be the Year of the Ox. Those who are born in the Year of the Ox are seen as people who are hard working, stubborn but have their feet firmly planted on the ground. They are logical thinkers and methodic in the things that they do.
