When is Chinese New Year 2022?
The Chinese new year in 2022 will be on February 1, 2022.
Chinese New Year
Chinese new year occurs on February 1; however, celebrations traditionally continue for 16 days, beginning on Chinese new year’s eve (January 31) and ending on February 15.
The Lantern Festival takes place on the last day of the festivities. Many people mark this occasion by releasing paper lanterns into the sky. From January 31 to February 6, many Chinese people aim to take seven days off work to enjoy the holiday properly.
The spring festival is another name for the Chinese new year. This is a time for Chinese families to clean their homes to remove bad luck, make a place for good fortune and welcome the arrival of warmer weather. You’ll see red-colored paper cutouts with themes of “happiness” and “wealth” on the doors.
What is the Animal for Chinese New Year 2022?
According to the Chinese zodiac, the year of the tiger will begin on February 1, 2022, and ends on January 21, 2023. People born in the tiger year are brave, competitive, unpredictable, and self-assured.
What is the Duration of the Chinese New Year?
You get pissed on champagne in the west, make a resolution you’ll break in two weeks, start the year with a crippling hangover, and then go to work the next day. On the other hand, the Chinese take their time with the new year. It is customarily two weeks long. New year’s eve, or Da Nian Ye, kicks off the festivities. The family gathers for a large banquet known as Nian Ye Fan. Da Nian Chu Yi begins at the stroke of midnight.
Each day after that is dedicated to a different custom. So let’s get right to the point:
New year day: A day to visit/greet family and relatives, give gifts, and respect and visit ancestors’ graves.
2nd Day: On this day married women visit their parents with their husbands and children.
3rd Day: It’s a dreary day when it’s customary to stay at home and relax with family and play games.
4th Day: A good day for prayer and offerings, as well as visits to temples and fortune-tellers.
5th Day: This day is called Da Nian Chu Wu. Caishen, the God of Wealth, is honored this day in China.
6th Day: This is thought to be the best day to get rid of old and unwanted items. It’s also an excellent day to start working again.
7th Day: This is the day when human beings were created according to the Chinese and it is encouraged to spend time with nature on this day.
8th Day: The good weather on this day will be the sign of good crops for the rest of the year. A second mini-reunion dinner will be held for many families.
9th Day: Offerings, incense, and firecrackers are part of the ‘Jade Emperor’s birthday celebrations on this day. Before the ban on fireworks in Shanghai, fireworks on this day were the most aggressive.
10th Day: On this day, fathers are expected to ‘entertain’ or treat their sons-in-law.
11th Day: Cooking, making lanterns, and other preparations for the lantern festival are the things done on this day.
12th Day: This is the last day of the festival. People watch dragon dances in the streets, and children answer lantern riddles as lanterns are lit and hung or flown.
History of Chinese New Year
According to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, the Chinese new year is a festival that commemorates the start of a new year. In mainland China, the celebration is known as the spring festival, and it is one of the numerous lunar new years celebrated in Asia. The Chinese new year begins on the first day of the new moon, which occurs between January 21 and February 20. It is a significant holiday in Greater China. In addition, it has significantly influenced lunar new year celebrations in China’s neighboring cultures, such as the Korean new year, Vietnam’s Tt, and Tibet’s Losar. It is also commemorated in nations and areas with large Chinese communities, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, North America, and Europe.
The Chinese new year has an almost 3,500-year history. However, its actual beginning is unknown. Some believe that the Chinese new year began during the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC) when people held sacrificial ceremonies in honor of gods and ancestors at the start and end of each year.
The Kuomintang party decreed in 1928 that the Chinese new year would fall on January 1, following the gregorian calendar, but this was overturned due to widespread public protest. Official Chinese new year festivities were outlawed in China during the cultural revolution in 1967. Because people needed to work on Chinese new year’s Eve, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China proclaimed that the public should modify customs and have a revolutionized spring festival. People who needed to work on spring festival day did not have holidays. But after the Chinese economic reform, public festivities had been resumed for all Chinese people.
Traditionally, the event was a time to commemorate both deities and ancestors. However, regional customs and traditions about the new year’s celebration vary greatly within China. The evening before Chinese new year’s day is generally an occasion for Chinese families to assemble for the annual reunion supper. Every family is also expected to properly clean their home to sweep away any bad luck and make room for new good fortune.
What is the Chinese astrological sign?
Each year, the Chinese calendar assigns one of twelve zodiac animals, each with its unique set of traits. In addition, each month of the Gregorian calendar is commonly associated with a zodiac sign in other nations.
The following are the twelve animals:
- Rat
- Ox
- Tiger
- Rabbit
- Dragon
- Snake
- Horse
- Goat
- Monkey
- Rooster
- Dog
- Pig
Because the animals are assigned in twelve-year cycles, 2020 was the year of the rat, as was 2008, 1996, and so on. The cycle is based on the great race, an old folk legend.
To reach the Jade Emperor, all twelve animals compete in a race. The years are given in the order in which they finished the race. For example, the rat defeated the more prominent animals by gaining a ride on the back of an ox and then jumping off at the last possible moment. This implies that the Ox, who was expected to win the race, had to settle for second place, while the others filled in the gaps, with the pig finishing last.
Chinese New Year Around the World
The celebrations of the Chinese new year are not limited to mainland China.
From centuries-old Chinese communities in Southeast Asia to more recent Chinatowns in Sydney, London, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Los Angeles, the Chinese immigrant population celebrates the Chinese new year with parades and lion dances worldwide.
To celebrate the new year, iconic landmarks worldwide, such as the Tokyo Tower and the London Eye, will turn red.
What to Eat During Chinese New Year?
Several dishes are eaten for their symbolic value during the Chinese new year. During the 16-day festival season, lucky food is offered, particularly during the Chinese new year banquet on new year’s eve, which is thought to bring good fortune for the following year.
Based on their pronunciations or appearances, these traditional Chinese new year meals have lucky significance. The dishes themselves, their preparation and presentation, as well as how they are served and consumed, are all important.
Dumplings, seafood, spring rolls, and Nian Gao are among the most popular Chinese new year meals. We’ve compiled a list of must-try Chinese new year foods, along with their symbolic meanings.
1. Fish Increases Prosperity
One of the most traditional Chinese new year foods is steamed fish.
In Chinese, the word “fish” means “surplus.” Fish is a typical Chinese new year dish on the Chinese new year supper menu. Chinese people prefer to have a surplus at the end of the year because they believe that if they preserve something at the end of the year, they will make more the following year.
Therefore, Chinese mostly prefer having steamed fish at the end of the year. The fortunate homophonic dictate which fish should be chosen for the new year’s meal.
2. It’s important to Consider How a Fish is Prepared
The fish should be the last dish served, with some leftover, because it contains auspicious homophonic for yearly surpluses. The head and tail of the fish should not be eaten until the beginning of the year, which expresses the hope that the year will start and end with a surplus. A set of rules governs the posture of the fish.
- Respect should be shown by placing the head of fish toward notable guests or elders.
- Diners can only eat the fish after the person facing the fish head has eaten first.
- It’s not a good idea to move the fish. Drinking together with the person facing the head and tail of a fish is thought to have a lucky meaning.
3. Chinese Dumplings – Wealth
Dumplings have a 1,800 years history as a lucky food for the lunar new year and a traditional dish served on Chinese new year’s eve. They are prevalent in China, particularly in North China.
It is possible to make Chinese dumplings that resemble Chinese silver ingots. According to legends, the more dumplings you eat at new year’s celebrations, the more money you’ll make the following year.
Minced meat and finely chopped vegetables are wrapped in a thin and elastic dough casing to make dumplings. Minced pork, diced shrimp, fish, ground chicken, beef, and veggies are popular fillings. Dumplings can be prepared in various ways, including boiling, steaming, frying, and baking.
Dumplings are easy to make for almost everyone in China. They start by mixing the dough, then roll it out into circular “wrappers” with a rolling pin, stuff the wrappers, pinch the “wrapper” together into the proper form, then fry them.
4. Spring Rolls- Wealth
The name spring rolls come from the fact that they are traditionally served during the spring festival. It is a popular Chinese new year meal in East China, particularly Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Fujian, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.
Spring rolls are cylindrical-shaped rolls filled with veggies, meat, or a sweet filling. Fillings are encased in thin dough wrappers before being fried.
5. Glutinous Rice Cake – A Higher Income or Position
Glutinous rice cake is a lucky dish on Chinese new year’s eve. In Chinese, sticky rice cake sounds like “year after year getting higher.” In the thoughts of the Chinese, this suggests that the higher you go in life, the more profitable your business will be.
Sticky rice, sugar, chestnuts, Chinese dates, and lotus leaves are the primary ingredients in Nian Gao or glutinous rice cake.
6. Sweet Rice Balls — Family Togetherness
Sweet rice balls are the traditional meal of China’s lantern festival, although they are also eaten during the spring festival in south China. Tangyuan is related to the reunion and being together due to its pronunciation and round shape. That is why the Chinese favor them during the new year’s celebrations.
7. Longevity Noodles — Happiness and Longevity
Longevity noodles, naturally, represent a longing for eternal life. However, they also indicate the eater’s life because of their length and carefree preparation. It is a lucky food eaten in North China on Chinese new year’s day.
They’re longer and uncut than regular noodles, and they’re served either fried on a platter or cooked in a bowl with their soup.
What to Wear on Chinese New Year?
There aren’t any specific standards for the type of new apparel. People in ancient China would dress according to the fashion trends of the day. Nothing is stopping you from doing the same.
However, if you like a more classic look, there are a few types to pick from. The Qing era produced most of the traditional clothing still worn today.
The suit made of tang
A tang suit was a type of clothing used during the tang dynasty. The “new” tang suit, on the other hand, is a garment that mixes the Qing dynasty’s man riding jacket and the western suit. The collar is turned up, and the lapels are straight. Traditional Chinese knots adorn the suit (frog buttons). Brocade, a premium cloth in ancient times, is commonly used.
It used to be seamless between the body and the sleeves. The looseness didn’t fully fit modern aesthetics, but it allowed rhythmic movement. The majority of tang outfits are now updated and customized. For example, many shirts have auspicious symbols and messages stitched on them.
Qipao
During the Qing period, the qipao became widely accepted in Chinese culture. However, today’s modern trends are vastly different from the past. First, it started as a simple garment with straight and flowing cuts. Then, the fabric was stitched with intricate motifs. Finally, the qipao was westernized as a result of colonization.
From the mid-nineteenth century until the present, the changes have been back and forth. Long and short, tight and loose styles alternate. The qipao is usually relatively tight-fitting nowadays. Openings can go all the way up to the thigh.
On the other hand, modern fashions keep the rigid straight collar and is adorned with frog buttons. Flowers, birds, and phoenixes are among the most popular embroidered designs.
Hanfu
The term “Hanfu” literally means “clothing of the Han ethnicity.” Until the Qing period, it included traditional clothes. This implies that there are just too many types and variations to count.
A hanfu outfit usually consists of a shirt and a skirt. The shirt has long and wide sleeves with crossed lapels. The skirt is lengthy and occasionally reaches the top of the breasts.
The hanfu of the tang dynasty impacted the Japanese kimono, while the Korean hanfu was affected by the Ming dynasty.
The exquisite cuts and vibrant hues will add a unique element to your clothing. Modern variants with shorter skirts and more western influences are also available. Hanfu is the answer if you’re seeking something more formal and eye-catching.
Why is Chinese New Year Important?
Chinese new year has significant importance for Chinese people because it is the time for them to leave behind the bad luck and all the bad happenings of the previous year. Chinese new year’s day gives them a chance for a fresh start with the hope of good luck in the upcoming year.
This time of the year is the time to wave off all the tiredness of the year, and it is the time for the Chinese people to unite with their friends and family. New year’s eve is perhaps the most exciting part of the celebration, as excitement builds. Traditions and rituals are strictly followed in everything from food to clothing.
Cleaning the house, hanging new “door god” posters on front doors, and watching fireworks preceded by the family union dinner, which should be at least a 10-course meal with a whole fish entrée symbolizing the coming year’s abundance.
There are red decorations everywhere, and it’s customary to wear red to ward off evil spirits – but black and white are off-limits because they are associated with mourning.
After dinner, the family stays up all night playing cards, board games, or watching holiday-themed television. Fireworks light up the sky at midnight.
Chinese new year celebrations include more fireworks than any other night of the year, with more rockets launched on that night than any other night. Fireworks are now restricted or outright banned in over 500 Chinese cities due to safety and air pollution concerns, but they remain a hugely popular part of the new year celebrations. The custom is based on a Chinese folktale about a monster named Nian who was scared away by firecrackers.
Chinese New Year Activities
Using red Items to clean and decorate houses
Before the spring festival, people clean their homes thoroughly, symbolizing washing away the ill-luck of the previous year and preparing their dwellings to receive good fortune.
The festival’s predominant color is red, which is seen to be a bright shade for the lunar new year, symbolizing prosperity and energy and warding off evil spirits and negativity. Red lanterns adorn the streets; new year images adorn the doors.
Honoring the forefathers
A Chinese new year’s tradition is to pay tribute to the deceased. Many Chinese people pay a visit to their ancestors’ graves the day before Chinese new year’s day, honoring the ancestors before the reunion supper (to demonstrate that they are allowing their ancestors to “eat” first), and add glass to the dinner table on new year’s eve.
Family dinner
The Chinese new year is a time for the family to gather together and celebrate. However, the most critical time is Chinese new year’s eve. People are supposed to be at home, wherever they are, to celebrate the event with their families. ‘Reunion supper’ is the name given to the Chinese new year’s eve banquet. Several generations of large families gather around circular tables to enjoy the food and time together.
Red envelopes and other gifts are exchanged
Red envelopes are the most typical present. Children and (retired) seniors are frequently handed red envelopes with money inside.
The crimson envelope is known as ya sui qian, which translates to suppressing Sui [the demon] money. A safe and peaceful year is wished to all who receive a red envelope.
The sums of money range from a few dollars to several hundred dollars. Except for the number 4, which rhymes with the word “death,” Chinese superstitions prefer sums that begin with even numbers, such as 8 (a homophone for “rich”) and 6 (a homophone for “smooth”).
Shopping for the Chinese new year
People buy new year’s food and snacks, decorations, new year’s outfits, fireworks, and other items before Chinese new year’s eve. Chinese new year, like Christmas, is a shopping bonanza in China.
While most Chinese people are frugal, they appear to spend lavishly during their traditional festivities. For example, they buy new year’s outfits for everyone, whether or not they need them.
Things to Avoid on Chinese New Year
Following are the things to avoid on Chinese new year:
Washing and cleaning
According to Chinese, If you’re a hygienic person, make sure you sweep on Chinese new year’s eve; the bad luck from the previous year will be swept away with the trash.
However, if you sweep on new year’s day, you will sweep away all of your good fortunes. Similarly, doing any laundry, such as washing your clothes or hair on this day will wash your luck away.
Inappropriate gifts
For CNY, some gifts are usually appreciated, such as red paper envelopes loaded with money. However, sure gifts are so taboo that you shouldn’t even bring them up on the big day.
Clocks
The word “gifting clocks” in Chinese sounds a lot like “attending a funeral march.” You can see how this would be a poor choice for a present at any time of year.
Umbrellas
Umbrellas should be avoided, even if it’s merely spades, because they symbolize division.
Pears
The character for pears also sounds like breaking up. Therefore, it’s incredibly improper for couples. Remove them from the fruit basket as soon as possible.
Mirrors
Superstitious people believe that mirrors can attract evil spirits, which no one wants in their home.
Shoes
In Chinese, the word “shoes” conjures up images of evil.
Wrong Colors
For the superstitious, color is another significant aspect to consider. Red is a highly promising color, and it should be seen in almost every room of your home, as well as on your clothes. On the other hand, white and black are considered funeral colors and should be avoided.
Knives and scissors are not to be used
When people argue, the blades of the scissors are said to resemble sharp lips.
Knives should be avoided at all costs, as it is supposed to bring bad luck and money depletion in the coming year.
Avoid borrowing and lending money.
During the Chinese new year, the Chinese avoid borrowing money.
Money should not be lent on new year’s day, and all debts must be paid by new year’s eve. If you owe someone money, do not go to their home to demand payment. It is said that anyone who does so will be unlucky for the rest of the year.
Using foul language and cursing
Swearing, saying words with negative connotations (such as death, poverty, or ghosts), and badmouthing are all things to avoid on Chinese new year because they will bring you bad luck for the rest of the year.
Facts About Chinese New Year
It is a celebration attended by a quarter of the world’s population
For spring festival 2022, the world’s population will be 7.76 billion, and more than 2 billion people will celebrate it somehow, even if it’s simply a national recognition. China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, North Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Brunei all have public holidays for the Chinese new year.
In addition, more and more western countries, such as New York, London, Vancouver, and Sydney have participated in this festival in recent years.
The Chinese new year is an excellent time to travel to China
The Chinese new year is a fantastic time to visit China to enjoy the festivities and China’s winter. However, it is by far the busiest period in terms of transportation in China, especially until a few days before and after the Chinese new year.
Therefore, if you want to visit China around the Chinese new year, book your tour as soon as possible.
Children are not punished on Chinese new year’s day
Youngsters are not punished on Chinese new year’s day, even if they misbehave, because it is believed that if children weep on this day, they will weep all year.
The festivities last 15 days
The Chinese new year isn’t only a one-day event. It is traditionally celebrated for 15 days and ends with a full moon!
The lantern festival brings it all to a close. However, the first three days are a national holiday in China, and this is when the primary festivities take place.
Around this period, lion and dragon dances are prevalent
In China, especially around the Chinese new year, lion and dragon dances are trendy. They are thought to bring good luck to the neighborhood.
You will hear a lot of loud drums throughout these dances. The loud boom is claimed to drive away all ill-luck and spirits!
A total of 8 billion red envelopes
It wouldn’t be Chinese new year without distributing red envelopes to children and young relatives who are single. Every year, over 8 billion red envelopes are distributed to Chinese families worldwide. Each envelope includes an even quantity of cash or chocolate coins, both of which represent good luck and wealth in the next year.
On Chinese new year’s day, a married daughter is not permitted to visit her parents’ home
On Chinese new year’s day, there are a lot of taboos and superstitions.
On Chinese new year’s day, a married daughter is not permitted to visit her parents’ home, as this is thought to bring ill-luck to the parents, causing financial difficulties for the family. However, on the second day of the Chinese new year, a married daughter pays a visit to her parents’ home.
FAQs About Chinese New Year
What is China’s most important holiday?
The spring festival, also known as the lunar new year, is one of China’s most important festivals, lasting for a week or two.
What makes the Chinese new year unique?
The Chinese new year is a lunar holiday, which means it is observed at the start of a new moon rather than the Gregorian calendar year.
What should you avoid eating on the Chinese new year?
White is considered an unlucky color in Chinese culture because it represents death; hence no white delicacies are allowed at the festival. So say goodbye to tofu, eggs, and white cheeses for the night. Because brown eggs have white insides, we’re unsure where they stand.
Is it permissible to pluck hair during the Chinese new year?
While dressing up and looking decent for CNY is considered lucky, cutting your hair on Chinese new year’s day is thought to symbolize cutting your life short. So Chinese people probably want to stay away from that one. However, getting your hair trimmed a few days ahead of time is acceptable and encouraged.
Does the spring festival coincide with the Chinese new year?
Some people mistakenly believe that the spring festival and the Chinese new year are two separate events in China. Because China follows the lunar calendar, the Chinese new year is also known as the Chinese lunar new year. Because it is the “beginning of spring” in the lunar calendar, Chinese people refer to lunar new year as the spring festival, or “Chun Jie.”
Why is the Chinese new year’s color red?
When it comes to the most representative color for China, most people will probably say red. So why is the Chinese new year’s color red? Chinese people consider red a lucky color, using it for most of their significant events, such as weddings, Chinese new year, and other activities.
Happiness, passion, success, and good fortune are all represented by red. Chinese people prefer to use red as the primary color for Chinese new year decorations, and it is considered auspicious to wear red during the holiday. Bad luck will be scared away, and good fortune will come your way.
How do you say “happy new year” in Chinese?
When greeting someone in northern China, saying “Xinnian Kuaile” (Happy New Year in Mandarin) is customary. The Cantonese version of the greeting is “Gong Hey Fat Choi” (wishing you a prosperous year) in Guangdong and Hong Kong.
Conclusion
Chinese new year is a critical event in China and has significant importance among Chinese. This 15 days event is celebrated across China and neighboring countries with great enthusiasm. Even though they don’t get a 15 days holiday, many Chinese people try to get maximum holidays.
It is the time for them to spend some time off after an exhausting year and reunite with friends and family. Chinese carefully follow their rituals on new years eve. It is simply the most loving time for the Chinese.
