Chinese New Year 2024: At this time of year, several Asian countries like Vietnam and Korea observe their New Year celebrations. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, holds great significance in China and numerous other Asian cultures.
This 15-day festival begins with the new moon falling between January 21 and February 20 in the Western calendar and concludes with the following full moon. Originally, the holiday was a time for feasting and paying respects to household gods, heavenly deities, and ancestors.
The Lunar New Year begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice, occurring in late December each year in East Asia. This year’s Lunar New Year, also called Chinese New Year, falls on Saturday, February 10, 2024.
What is Chinese New Year?
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a very important celebration for Chinese people all over China. It’s been celebrated for a long time, with different activities depending on where you are.
During this festival, people focus on leaving behind bad things from the past and looking forward to good things in the future. They honor their ancestors, try to get rid of any bad spirits, and pray for a good harvest.
Nowadays, Chinese communities all around the world celebrate this festival too. They do lots of fun things like lion dances, and ragon dances, visiting temple fairs, and buying flowers from markets.
Before the New Year, people clean their homes to make sure everything is fresh and clean. They decorate their houses with red decorations, lanterns, and new furniture. They also prepare yummy food for special meals.
The New Year is a special time for families to come together. Many people who live far away from their families travel back home to be together. This big movement of people is called Chun Yun, or Moving in the Spring, in China. They travel by bus, train, or car to be with their loved ones.
Chinese Zodiac Animal: Year Wise
| Year | Chinese Zodiac Animal |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Tiger |
| 2011 | Rabbit |
| 2012 | Dragon |
| 2013 | Snake |
| 2014 | Horse |
| 2015 | Goat (Sheep) |
| 2016 | Monkey |
| 2017 | Rooster |
| 2018 | Dog |
| 2019 | Pig |
| 2020 | Rat |
| 2021 | Ox |
| 2022 | Tiger |
| 2023 | Rabbit |
| 2024 | Dragon |
| 2025 | Snake |
| 2026 | Horse |
| 2027 | Goat (Sheep) |
| 2028 | Monkey |
| 2029 | Rooster |
Chinese New Year 2024
The Lunar New Year begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice, occurring in late December each year in East Asia. This year’s Lunar New Year, also called Chinese New Year, falls on Saturday, February 10, 2024.
In the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese New Year takes place on the new moon falling between January 21 and February 20. Check out the table listed below:
| Gregorian Year | Date | Animal | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 22 Jan | Rabbit | Sunday |
| 2024 | 10 Feb | Dragon | Saturday |
| 2025 | 29 Jan | Snake | Wednesday |
| 2026 | 17 Feb | Horse | Tuesday |
| 2027 | 6 Feb | Goat | Saturday |
| 2028 | 26 Jan | Monkey | Wednesday |
| 2029 | 13 Feb | Rooster | Tuesday |
| 2030 | 3 Feb | Dog | Sunday |
| 2031 | 23 Jan | Pig | Thursday |
| 2032 | 11 Feb | Rat | Wednesday |
| 2033 | 31 Jan | Ox | Monday |
| 2034 | 19 Feb | Tiger | Sunday |
The Dragon Year
The Dragon Year, or the Year of the Dragon, is a period in the Chinese zodiac cycle associated with strength, courage, and success. It occurs every twelve years and is considered a time for new beginnings and growth.
People born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to possess these traits, including a pioneering spirit and a strong sense of ambition. It’s also regarded as an auspicious time for undertaking ventures and achieving significant milestones.
The Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese celebration held on the fifteenth day of the lunar new year. It marks the end of the New Year festivities and the beginning of spring. People decorate with colorful lanterns, enjoy festive foods, and gather for dragon dances. It’s a time for family reunions and hope for a prosperous year ahead.
The Lantern Festival is also known for releasing lanterns into the sky or floating them on water, symbolizing letting go of the past and embracing new beginnings.
How to Celebrate Chinese New Year 2024?
Celebrating Chinese New Year with friends and family can be a joyous and meaningful experience. Here are some ways to celebrate together:
- Reunion Dinner: Start by gathering with loved ones for a special reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve. Prepare traditional dishes such as dumplings, fish, noodles, and various auspicious foods to symbolize luck and prosperity.
- Decorations: Decorate your home with red lanterns, couplets with auspicious phrases, and symbolic items like oranges and tangerines to attract good luck and ward off evil spirits.
- Red Envelopes: Give and receive red envelopes (hongbao) containing money as a symbol of good fortune and blessings. This tradition is especially popular among children and unmarried young adults.
- Fireworks and Firecrackers: Set off fireworks or firecrackers to usher in the New Year and scare away evil spirits. Enjoy the colorful displays and festive atmosphere with your friends and family.
- Lion and Dragon Dances: Watch or participate in lion and dragon dances, which are traditional performances believed to bring good luck and prosperity. These lively dances are often accompanied by drums, cymbals, and other musical instruments.
- Visit Temples and Fairs: Pay a visit to local temples to pray for blessings and participate in cultural activities and performances. Explore traditional markets and fairs, where you can shop for festive goodies, snacks, and handicrafts.
- Exchange Gifts: Exchange gifts with friends and family as a gesture of goodwill and affection. Choose gifts that symbolize good luck and prosperity, such as oranges, tea, or traditional sweets.
- Family Activities: Engage in traditional activities together, such as making dumplings, crafting paper cuttings, or playing traditional games like mahjong or cards.
- Share Stories and Traditions: Take the opportunity to share stories and traditions especially with younger generations, to pass down cultural heritage and values.
- Extend Wishes: Extend wishes of health, happiness, and prosperity to each other for the coming year. Express gratitude for the love and support of friends and family, and look forward to a year filled with joy and success together.
Chinese New Year History
The history of Chinese New Year is mentioned in the given points below:
- Before the establishment of the New Year celebration, ancient Chinese marked the end of the harvest season in autumn with festivities, not to be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival.
- A poem from the Classic of Poetry during the Western Zhou period described autumn celebrations, possibly a precursor to Chinese New Year.
- Records trace the first Chinese New Year celebrations to the Warring States period, with exorcism rituals evolving into the practice of thorough house cleaning.
- During the Han dynasty, the custom of worshiping ancestors and exchanging New Year’s greetings was established.
- The Jin dynasty introduced the tradition of staying up all nighthouse tieshouse.
- The Tang dynasty saw the custom of sending New Year’s greeting cards, bai nian ttiesThe decoration and the use of firecrackers to scare away evil spirits.
- The Song dynasty witnessed the adoption of spring couplets and the tradition of giving money to children during New Year’s.
- Under the Yuan dynasty, the tradition of giving year cakes (nian gao) to relatives began.
- Eating Chinese dumplings (jiaozi) on New Year’s Day became a tradition during the Ming dynasty.
- In the Qing dynasty, money given to children during New Year’s was known as ya sui qian.
- Modern Chinese New Year celebrations were disrupted during the Cultural Revolution but were reinstated in 1980.
How to Wish ‘Happy New Year’ in Chinese?
In northern China, it is common to say “Xinnian Kuaile” (Happy New Year in Mandarin) when greeting someone. Whereas in Guangdong and Hong Kong, the Cantonese version of the greeting is “Gong Hey Fat Choi” (wishing you a prosperous year).
How to Decorate on Chinese New Year?
The decoration is a big part of the Chinese New Year celebration. People spend substantial time and effort to uplift their houses and the immediate surroundings to welcome the Gods of Wealth. There are said to be two Gods of Wealth: one God of Civil and one God of Military.
People fix up paper-cuts on windows and folk paintings on walls, hang red lanterns in and outside their houses, display couplets on doors, hang a big Chinese character LUCK on the main entrance, and so on.
In some parts of northern China,this Chinese character is often hung upside down, because the term “upside down” sounds like “arriving” in Mandarin Chinese. Thus an upside-down LUCK would mean LUCK arriving there.
Streets, city squares,and other public places are also decorated with banners, flags, flowerpots, orange trees,and so on to boost the festive atmosphere. Peach, plum, and daffodils are mostly seen because they are thought to bring good luck.
Chinese New Year Stories and Legends
Ghost World Tales:
One story recounts a world of ghosts where a golden rooster atop a peach tree signaled the return of spirits each morning. Door Gods punished those who caused harm, giving rise to the tradition of displaying couplets for protection.
Nian the Beast:
Another legend tells of Nian, a fierce beast terrorizing villagers until an elder scared it away with fireworks and red decorations. This tale explains the origins of firecrackers and red décor during the New Year.
Symbolic Meanings:
Numerous myths surround New Year customs, from the significance of certain foods to the rituals believed to bring prosperity and ward off evil spirits.
Cultural Significance:
These stories not only entertain but also convey cultural values and beliefs passed down through generations, enriching the tapestry of Chinese New Year celebrations.
Chinese New Year 2024 – FAQs
What is Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, marks the beginning of the lunar new year and is celebrated with various traditions and festivities.
When is the Year of the Dragon?
The Year of the Dragon occurs every twelve years in the Chinese zodiac cycle and is associated with strength, courage, and success.
How do people celebrate Chinese New Year?
People celebrate Chinese New Year by having family reunions, enjoying festive meals, decorating their homes, and participating in cultural activities like dragon dances and lantern festivals.
What is the significance of Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year holds cultural significance as a time for renewal, family bonding, and the pursuit of good fortune. It embodies traditional values and customs passed down through generations.
What are some traditional customs associated with Chinese New Year?
Traditional customs include cleaning homes to sweep away bad luck, giving red envelopes containing money for good luck, setting off fireworks to ward off evil spirits, and enjoying special New Year’s foods like dumplings and fish.