Chinese New Year Traditions and Celebrations
New Year celebrations comprise the most important family time in China. Ancient legends tell of a mythical beast that roamed the countryside, wreaking havoc on people, animals, and property as the new year approached. Someone learned that the beast was afraid of the color red and of loud noises, so red banners with lucky sayings were posted around door frames to keep the beast out, red lanterns were hung in the streets, and firecrackers and fireworks were set off at midnight to scare the beast away. These traditions are still followed today among those of Chinese heritage in many parts of the world.
The Lunar New Year and the Chinese Zodiac
On February 17, 2026, the Year of the Water Horse will dawn. Each year is assigned one of the animals of the Chinese zodiac, along with one of the elemental signs of wood, fire, earth, metal, or water. The horse symbolizes strength, perseverance, and energy, along with negative traits such as impatience and stubbornness. The water element brings wisdom, flexibility, and emotional depth, though it can also lead to sentimentality.
The new year begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice, usually falling between January 21 and February 20 in the Gregorian calendar. In 1912, China adopted the Gregorian calendar with the year beginning on January 1, but Lunar New Year celebrations persisted. In 1949, the government renamed the holiday the “Spring Festival,” even though it usually falls during the winter.
Preparation for the Chinese New Year
To prepare for the new beginning, houses are cleaned from top to bottom, getting rid of anything old or worn out to make room for prosperity to come in. New clothes make an appearance, quarrels and small debts are forgiven, and red decorations fill homes and streets.
In addition to red banners around doorways, small red squares with the character for luck often hang upside down over door frames to symbolize good fortune pouring down upon the household. Most importantly, families gather to welcome the coming year together.
New Year’s Eve Traditions
During the last day of the old year, many families visit the graves of their departed ancestors to clean the area and make offerings of food and incense. In the evening, families come together for a large meal filled with symbolic meaning.
Because Chinese is a tonal language, words that sound similar often become symbols. The word for fish sounds like the word for abundance. Whole chickens are often served because the word for chicken sounds like good luck or prosperity. The word for tangerine sounds like the word for gold, the word for vegetable sounds like the word for wealth, and the Cantonese word for shrimp sounds like laughter.
Spring rolls resemble bars of gold, dumplings resemble purses filled with money, and long noodles symbolize long life. The special New Year cake sounds like “a high year,” representing growth and success. Foods that are round also symbolize family harmony and completeness.
At the stroke of midnight, fireworks and firecrackers are lit, and some families stay up all night to continue the celebration.
New Year’s Week Celebrations
The week-long celebration focuses on reuniting with old friends and extended family while enjoying time together eating and visiting. Lion dances, with their distinctive drumbeat patterns, add to the festivities, and businesses in many cities cover entire buildings with banners or electronic light displays.
Red envelopes filled with money are given to children and the elderly to wish them luck. Excitement runs high as families welcome the new year together.
Learn More About Chinese New Year Traditions
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