Chinese New Year Celebrations … Beliefs and Traditions

February 7, 2016
DUNIA Mag
Posted in Around The World

The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for Chinese people worldwide.

Millions of people travel across China to return home to celebrate the Chinese New Year. (ABC News: Waynne McAllister)

This year’s Chinese New Year is on February 8. The date of the Chinese New Year, which is determined by the Chinese lunar-solar calendar typically changes every year depending on the movement of the moon.

In 2017, the Chinese New Year will be on January 28th; 2018: February 16th; 2019: February 5th; 2020: January 25th.

Also known as Spring Festival, New Year Day in China is traditionally set aside to honor deities and ancestors, and for community feasting.

Wat Traimit on Chinese New Year 2015. Photo: Ovedc

Leading up to the new year, families prepare by thoroughly cleaning out their homes… “to rid them of “huiqi,” or inauspicious breaths, which might have collected during the old year. Cleaning was also meant to appease the gods who would be coming down from heaven to make inspections. Ritual sacrifices of food and paper icons were offered to gods and ancestors. People posted scrolls printed with lucky messages on household gates and set off firecrackers to frighten evil spirits. Elders gave out money to children. In fact, many of the rites carried out during this period were meant to bring good luck to the household and long life to the family–particularly to the parents.” – History.com

Younger generations celebrate by spending time with family, visiting friends and taking time off work for fun activities.

Celebrations marking the new year normally start on New Year’s Eve and continue for about 15 days, making it the longest holiday for Chinese people.

A series of New Year celebrations usher in Year of the Monkey. Photo: Joshua Paul/AP

Every year in the Chinese calendar is associated with one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animal signs which are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, or Pig; and one 5 elements: Gold (Metal), Water, Wood, Fire or Earth.

2016 is the year of the Fire Monkey. The next Monkey Year will be 12 years from now.

Both sign and element of the year are believed to influence the personalities and destinies of those born that year. Fire Monkeys (2016) are dominantly characterized by traits such as brave, ambitious, adventurous and smart, but irritable.

2016 New Year Celebration in Chinatown, LA

This year, Chinatown in Los Angeles is inviting all of Los Angeles to welcome good health, prosperity, and harmony for the “Year of the Monkey” with them. Thousands will pay respects and celebrate, light firecrackers to awaken spirits, and burn incense to usher in good fortune for the new year.

Dragon Dance Performance at Golden Dragon Parade, Los Angeles Chinatown

Lion dancers, Buddhist and Taoist monks, the heads of family associations, and many others from the Southern California Chinese community will gather for the 117th Golden Dragon Parade and Chinatown’s Chinese New Year Festival. The Parade will feature John Chiang, State Treasurer, and Grand Marshall.

A traditional ceremony takes place on the eve of Chinese New Year’s Day (2/7/2016) and will be followed by 15 more days of celebration through the first two weeks of the Chinese New Year.

Worker checks lanterns as part of decorations in preparation of Chinese New Year celebrations. Photo: Romeo Ranoco/Reuters

According to the Chinese New Year Calendar, 2017 will be the year of the Chicken; 2018, the year of the Dog; 2019, year of the Pig; and 2020 will be the year of the Rat.