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China's lunar New Year is almost here. This year the date is Sunday February 18th. Another name for this celebration is the "Spring Festival". Last year was the "Year of the Dog" and this is the "Year of the Pig", a very lucky year indeed.
It seems that before the arrival of Western ideas, China, and all of East Asia, observed the lunar calendar. It's a calendar that reflects the moon's cycle rather than the sun's.
Unlike the fixed January 1st solar calendar celebration in the West, the lunar calendar New Year can fall on any day between (circa) January 15th and February 19th. It falls on the day of the second new moon, following the Winter Solstice, which is the first day of winter, or December 21st on the (Western) solar calendar.
Spring Festival lasts for about 15 days ending with the Lantern Festival (full moon). During the 15 day celebration people make a fresh start. It is time for reconciliation, making peace and forgiving old grudges. People are warm and friendly to one another and many families, friends and neighbours exchange gifts. Children receive envelopes with money gifts called Hongbao.
The record shows that it's a good holiday for selling new cars.
There are many practices that symbolize a new start. Homes and businesses are cleaned, many people wear only new clothes on New Year’s Day. A very important part of the celebration is paying honor and respect to ancestors. This is because family unity and its lineage is a central value of Chinese society.
Traditionally, on this day everyone celebrated their birthday as well and turning one year older.
Among the common greetings used during the celebration are:
新 年 快 乐 xin1 nian2 kuai4 le4 - Happy New Year
恭 喜 发 财 gong1 xi3 fa1 cai2 - Best wishes for prosperity
(numbers represent the 4 tones of the Mandarin language)
It seems that before the arrival of Western ideas, China, and all of East Asia, observed the lunar calendar. It's a calendar that reflects the moon's cycle rather than the sun's.
Unlike the fixed January 1st solar calendar celebration in the West, the lunar calendar New Year can fall on any day between (circa) January 15th and February 19th. It falls on the day of the second new moon, following the Winter Solstice, which is the first day of winter, or December 21st on the (Western) solar calendar.
Spring Festival lasts for about 15 days ending with the Lantern Festival (full moon). During the 15 day celebration people make a fresh start. It is time for reconciliation, making peace and forgiving old grudges. People are warm and friendly to one another and many families, friends and neighbours exchange gifts. Children receive envelopes with money gifts called Hongbao.
The record shows that it's a good holiday for selling new cars.
There are many practices that symbolize a new start. Homes and businesses are cleaned, many people wear only new clothes on New Year’s Day. A very important part of the celebration is paying honor and respect to ancestors. This is because family unity and its lineage is a central value of Chinese society.
Traditionally, on this day everyone celebrated their birthday as well and turning one year older.
Among the common greetings used during the celebration are:
新 年 快 乐 xin1 nian2 kuai4 le4 - Happy New Year
恭 喜 发 财 gong1 xi3 fa1 cai2 - Best wishes for prosperity
(numbers represent the 4 tones of the Mandarin language)
