CNN
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Let’s take a look at the Chinese New Year celebrated in many Asian countries. It is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese lunar-solar calendar.
From January 22, 2023 4721 begins. It is the first day of the new year in the Chinese calendar. 2023 is the year of the rabbit.
Lunar New Year is usually celebrated between January 21st and February 20th on the Gregorian calendar, during the second new moon after the winter solstice.
The Lunar New Year celebrations start on the 1st day of the first lunar month of the lunar calendar and last until the full moon, the 15th day of the lunar calendar.
According to Chinese legend, the Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on New Year’s Day, naming each of the 12 animals that came with a year.
The Chinese calendar animals are Dog, Pig/Boar, Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster.
Also, according to legend, people born in the year of each animal have some of that animal’s personality traits.
Each day of the 15-day celebration has its own traditions, such as visiting in-laws and staying home to welcome good fortune.
Families gather for meals, especially New Year’s Eve feasts.
Another tradition involves giving children and single adults cash in red envelopes called hongbao. In recent years, gift-giving has gone digital.
The Chinese New Year fireworks display originates from the custom of lighting bamboo to ward off evil spirits.
Chinese New Year ends with the Lantern Festival. The night is celebrated with a display of colored lanterns and a parade.
The highlight of the Lantern Festival is the dragon dance. Beautiful dragons made of paper, silk, bamboo, etc. dance overhead and parade.
