Counting the days until the lunar new year? Here are some interesting Chinese New Year fun facts you can exchange with your family.
It is that time of year again! The malls are all playing Chinese New Year (CNY) music and you know you can’t escape the CNY decorations! It’s also the time to start shopping for new clothes for the family. Start spring cleaning.
Get all your cookies snacks and auspicious foods in your pantry. Have you already started getting your reunion dinner plans ready?
But in the middle of all the preparations, have you thought about why we do these Chinese New Year traditions in the first place? Here are some fun facts about the Chinese New Year you should know and share with your kids as well.
Chinese New Year Fun Facts: Traditions and Practices
Like any other celebration dating back centuries, Chinese New Year comes with its own sets of traditions and practices. Have you ever wondered why we do the things we do? Here are 12 Chinese New Year fun facts that may help you gain a deeper understanding of our Chinese New Year traditions.
1. Chinese New Year background
Also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, the history of Chinese New Year traces back to about 3,500 years ago. From being a day to honour the ancestors and the gods, and to wish for prosperity at the start of the year, Chinese New Year evolved into the most important festival of the year, and a day to celebrate with the family.
2. The Chinese New Year signifies the start of a zodiac year.
Each year is assigned to one of 12 Zodiac signs with an associated animal. The Chinese believe each sign has its own characteristics, which can be seen in people born under the sign. Which sign are you?
This year, 2024, is the year of the wood dragon. The first day of the Chinese New Year symbolises a new beginning and calls for early rising and preparations to visit relatives and friends.
3. A typical Chinese New Year celebration lasts 15 days.
When is Chinese New Year and why does it change every year?
The Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar and falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. So historically, the date of the actual holiday usually ranges sometime between January 21 and February 20. This 2024 year, the start of the lunar year is on February 10, Saturday.
4. Start your spring cleaning for better luck!
It is considered good luck to thoroughly spring-clean the house to get rid of old energies and bad luck, getting ready to usher in fresh, better luck for the year ahead.
5. Decor goes up after the spring cleaning is done.
Once the house is clean, the decorations can go up! This can be in the form of couplets, lanterns, flowers, door gods and so on. Typically they are in the lucky colour, red.
Do you know your fun facts about Chinese New Year? | Image source: iStock
6. People generally put these plants around their homes during Chinese New Year
Some plants are considered auspicious like orange and mandarin trees, lucky bamboo, cherry blossoms and pussy willows.
7. Firecrackers are a must to scare off evil
Firecrackers are set off to celebrate the New Year and also to scare away monsters. Legend has it that the people of old were terrorised by a dragon called Nian, who could only be frightened off by loud noises and the colour red.
8. Lion and dragon dance – more than just entertainment
While children are amused (or toddlers scared) by the loud sound and coordinated pitter-patter of the lion and dragon dance, they will be thrilled to know that this beloved Chinese tradition is not just to provide entertainment to people on the streets, but to bring good luck as well.
The lion and the dragon are considered auspicious animals in Chinese culture. The lion symbolises strength, stability and superiority while the dragon represents power, boldness and excellence. So the lion and dragon dance is performed at the start of the lunar year as a means to chase away evil spirits and welcome prosperity.
9. No cutting of hair, nails or food during the first days of the Chinese New Year
No cutting of any kind is permitted during the first days of the Chinese New Year. Therefore, hair and nails must be cut in advance and food must be prepared in advance to avoid “cutting off” the luck that is flowing in.
10. Giving out ang paos
Ang paos or red packets are greatly anticipated by the young ones and are typically given by adults and the elderly. They are believed to suppress evil from children, keep them healthy and give them a long life.
Image Source: iStock
11. A greeting is customary
To get the ang paos, you might hear young children saying “Gong Xi Fa Cai, Ang Pao Na Lai!”, which means, “Congratulations and be prosperous, now give me a red envelope!” People exchange this auspicious phrase and many others to wish each other luck during the 15 days of the Chinese New Year.
12. Chinese New Year ends with a lantern festival
The celebration typically ends with a Lantern Festival with lanterns, oranges and more feasting. In Malaysia, they celebrate Chap Goh Mei, where single young girls toss mandarins into rivers or seas with their numbers written on them, hoping to find a suitable match!
So now that you know about these interesting Chinese New Year fun facts, will you be sharing them with your kids?
