The Chinese zodiac’s traditions and customs resonate through our actions even in contemporary settings. As the Year of the Snake approaches, we should not underestimate the influence of some of the common folklore beliefs. Lunar New Year rush starts after China lifts COVID travel rules. By Associated Press. Lion dancer makes impact on Chinese Lunar New Year tradition. By Mori Rothman, Michael D. Regan. Happy Lunar During Chinese New Year, people have a long list of things to do. From one week preceding the festival to the 15th day after, many Chinese New Year customs are widely observed for thousands of years. The family reunion dinner, eating dumplings, and setting off firework are the must-dos that you might know. What else interesting do the Chinese do? Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year or Spring Festival 2025 falls on Wednesday, January 29th, 2025. Snake is the new year animal. Learn more about Chinese Lunar New Year traditions, taboos, food, zodiac signs, and greetings. The Chinese New Year, or the Lunar New Year, is one of the biggest and oldest celebrations. The 15-day-long festivities begin with the Little Year and conclude with the Lantern Festival. As per the legends, on the first new moon on the Lunar calendar, people used to light red lanterns, burst loud Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations and Activities (Jan. 7–Feb. 12, 2025) Jan. 7, 2025: Laba Festival. Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for Chinese New Year as early as day 8 of the 12 th month of the lunar calendar. This is a festival called Laba ( 腊八 Làbā /laa-baa/ '12th lunar month' + '8'), in the traditional sense, which Since the mid-1990s people in China have been given seven consecutive days off work during the Chinese New Year. This week of relaxation has been designated Spring Festival, a term that is sometimes used to refer to the Chinese New Year in general. The origins of the Chinese New Year are steeped in legend. One legend is that thousands of years Most of the traditions we see today have been passed down from the past. Read the top 15 Chinese New Year Traditional activities below: Chinese New Year traditions 1. House Cleaning. In the days leading up to Chinese New Year, Chinese families sweep the floors, wash clothes and other things, clean spiders' webs, and dredge ditches. While most Westerners experience ‘Chinese New Year’ by watching parades in Chinatown and having a great meal, its traditions vary from country to country. The holiday is more aptly called ‘Lunar New Year’, as it marks the start of a new lunar cycle, and is one of the most important holidays in Asia. Traditions . Aside from New Year’s Eve, there are other important days of the 15-day Chinese New Year Festival, including:. JIE CAI CENG: Welcoming the Gods of Wealth and Prosperity 9. Do not give New Year blessings to someone still in bed. You are supposed to give New Year blessings (拜年 / bài nián). But let the recipient get up from bed first. Otherwise, they’ll be bed-ridden for the entire year. You also shouldn’t tell someone to wake up. You don’t want them to be rushed around or bossed for the year. The Heart of Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year isn't just a holiday; it's a vibrant celebration filled with traditions, family gatherings, and cultural significance.From the colorful parades to the delicious feasts, every aspect of this festival brings people together. In Chinese, "fish" (鱼 Yú /yoo/) sounds like 'surplus'. Fish is a traditional Chinese New Year dish on the Chinese New Year dinner menu. Chinese people always like to have a surplus at the end of the year, because they think if they have managed to save something at the end of the year, then they can make more in the next year. A few days before the Chinese New Year, people will do a complete cleaning of the house and house wares which signifies to remove the old and welcome the new. Historically, when bathing did not occur often, people would normally take one to welcome the New Year. Decoration. After the cleaning, people will decorate the house to welcome the New Year. Lunar New Year, celebrated by Chinese communities worldwide, begins on January 29, 2025, and lasts up to 16 days. 2025 marks the Year of the Snake, associated with wisdom, intuition, and charm in While most Westerners experience ‘Chinese New Year’ by watching parades in Chinatown and having a great meal, its traditions vary from country to country. The holiday is more aptly called ‘Lunar New Year’, as it marks the start of a new lunar cycle, and is one of the most important holidays in Asia. Each culture celebrating the Lunar New Year has traditions passed down from generation to generation that are thought to bring good luck. For the Lunar New Year 2025, I asked NPR readers and listeners to share the new and old traditions they practice to ensure a lucky year ahead. Here are some of their responses, edited for length and clarity. Out of all the Chinese New Year customs and traditions, this one might be a young person’s favorite. Every new year, adults give children red envelopes containing paper money and/or coins. Each animal has its own characteristics and influences the personality traits of people born in that year. Superstitions and Beliefs. Chinese New Year is also a time for various superstitions and beliefs aimed at ensuring a prosperous year. Avoid washing hair on New Year's Day. Washing hair is believed to wash away good luck.
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