Chinese New Year is the biggest celebration in the country’s calendar. The date varies each year and this year it will be celebrated on the 5th February.
Chinese New Year celebrations last sixteen days. The period of celebration includes cleaning and preparing the house; decorating the house; celebrating and, on the final day, the Lantern Festival.
There are many fabulous customs that the Chinese incorporate into their celebrations. Here are just a few of our favourite traditions:
- Spring Couplets: A pair of lines of poetry that are usually hung on the sides of doors leading to people’s homes. They are used as a New Year’s decoration that expresses happiness and hopeful thoughts for the coming year.
- Red Envelopes: Gifts presented at social and family gatherings containing money. Red is a symbol of good luck.
- Firecrackers: Firecrackers and fireworks are set off at the stroke of midnight to scare away evil spirits and to celebrate the coming of the new year.
- Lanterns: Lit at the Lantern Festival which, this year, takes place on the 19th February, these symbolise the wish for a bright future. They are red and gold – red being the symbol of luck and gold being the symbol of wealth.
- Dragons: Chinese Dragons bring luck. The Dragon Dance is performed at special festivals to scare away evil spirits. Click here to learn more about the Chinese Dragon!
This year is the Year of the Pig. Someone born in the Year of the Pig are said to be considerate, responsible, independent and optimistic. They always show generosity and mercy to ensure other people’s mistakes.
Why not bring in the Chinese New Year with a packet of our Long Tong Noodles?
Sign up to Munchachos here and download our FREE app to explore, have fun, learn loads and get worldwise.