By Winlly Huang
Have you ever wondered what Chinese New Year is really about? Many young people celebrate it for the red envelopes. But there is so much more to this holiday. In fact, it has a very interesting back story and if you want to learn more about the Chinese culture, read on!
Alita Ong
What and When is Chinese New Year and Why is it Celebrated?
Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China. It’s a Chinese festival celebrating the new year of the traditional Chinese calendar. Traditionally, it is celebrated to honor household gods and ancestors. It begins on the day of a new moon and can be anywhere between January 21st and February 20th. This year’s Chinese New Year is on the 25th of January.
History of Chinese New Year
It is unclear when it started exactly but it has been celebrated for about 3,500 years. The ancient Chinese calendar is based on religion, dynasty, and the lunar phases. In the past, the calendar was reset with every new emperor. Now, of course, as the world has modernized, we no longer reset the calendar. The holiday always starts with the first new moon appearing around January 21st. Red is the most common color for clothes, decorations, and more. The color red symbolizes luck, good fortune, and joy.
Traditions of Chinese New Year
There are many traditions of the holiday as it is a kind of religious holiday. We believe in good luck and most of the traditions revolve around luck and fortune. One tradition is not to wash your hair because it would wash out all the luck and wealth for the new year. Cleaning and decorating your home in red is very important and the most common. The way we greet each other is saying “Gong hey fat choi!”
Middle School 101 at 131 