Here are 15 interesting facts about Chinese New Year. 1. Chinese New Year is also called "Spring Festival". Though in winter, Chinese call their New Year holidays 'Spring Festival' (春节 chūnjié /chwnn-jyeah/), because 'Start of Spring' (3 February) is the first of the terms in the traditional solar calendar. It is an important custom to set off firecrackers and fireworks during the Chinese New Year period. Chinese New Year celebrations would not be complete without them. Why Light Firecrackers on Chinese New Year? In traditional Chinese culture, firecrackers were originally used to scare away evil spirits. As the legend goes, a monster called Nian Firecrackers produce loud noises that alert everyone in the neighborhood that it is time to celebrate Chinese New Year! The bright colors from fireworks light up the sky at night adding beauty to this special occasion. Related Articles. Chinese New Year Dress & Outfits; Chinese New Year Colors; Chinese Lunar New Year Decoration Ideas Chinese New Year is celebrated by more than 20% of the world. It’s the most important holiday in China and to Chinese people all over. Here are 21 interesting facts that you probably didn’t know about Chinese New Year. 1. Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival Chinese New Year starts a new animal’s zodiac year. In China, each lunar cycle has 60 years and 12 years is regarded as a small cycle. Each of the 12 years is defined by an animal sign: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. 2025 is the Year of the Snake and 2026 is the Year of the Horse. On the fifteenth day of New Year: The fifteenth day is known as the Lantern Festival, setting off fireworks means the end of Chinese New Year, and it symbolizes people's good wishes for the future. FireworksHong Kong. Read day-by-day celebrations of Chinese New Year. The Legend of Setting Off Fireworks. Once upon a time, a monster called Nian Fireworks, also called firecrackers or Baozhu in China, are widely used in occasions like festivals, weddings and business-opening ceremonies. As an indispensable part of Chinese folk culture, it has a history of more than 2,000 years. The largest usage of fireworks in China usually comes from the celebration of the Chinese New Year (Spring Also known as the Spring Festival (春節), or simply Chinese New Year, A man and his child watch fireworks during Lunar New Year celebrations in Manila on Jan. 29, 2025. Photo by Eloisa Lopez Celebrating Chinese New Year. Bye to the old year Chinese New Year is celebrated with spring cleaning, feasts, fireworks and family gatherings. Food is piled up to symbolize abundance; people dress in nice clothes; traditional cakes are distributed among family members; fruits, candies and ornamental packages of tea are given to friends as gifts. One prevalent legend contributing to the belief in fireworks as protectors against evil spirits is the story of a monster called "Nian," which also means "Year" in Chinese. Legend has it that Nian would emerge on Chinese New Year's Eve to consume people and destroy crops. Over time, people discovered that the monster feared fire and loud sounds. 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 What is Chinese New Year? Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important traditional holiday in China. Celebrated by millions around the world, it marks the beginning of the lunar new year. Let's dive into some fascinating facts about this vibrant festival. Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is one of the most celebrated festivals in the world. It marks the beginning of the Chinese lunar calendar and is a time when families come together to honor their ancestors, pay respect to the gods, and wish each other good fortune for the upcoming year. For Chinese people, Lunar New Year is the Spring Festival, and it’s celebrated widely in Taiwan and across Southeast Asia in countries with large Chinese populations, such as Singapore and Malaysia. For those that aren’t as familiar with Chinese New Year, check out the following 10 facts about the holiday to get you started: Chinese New Year is the longest Chinese holiday . Chinese New Year lasts 16 days (though only the first 7 days are considered a public holiday). This year, the holiday begins on Sunday, January 22nd, 2023. Jan. 22–28, 2025: New Year Shopping. Before Chinese New Year's Eve, people buy New Year's food and snacks, New Year's decorations, and New Year's clothes, fireworks, etc. Chinese New Year in China, like Christmas, is a boom time for shopping. What is Lunar New Year? Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, marks the start of a new zodiac cycle based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Each year, the date shifts within the Gregorian calendar. Lunar New Year is celebrated around the world, particularly in Asian countries like China, shown here (Beijing). 50 Chinese New Year Facts for Kids. Chinese New Year is also called the Spring Festival. The holiday lasts for 15 days. In 2025, Chinese New Year falls on January 29. 2025 is the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac. The color red is considered lucky and is used extensively in decorations. People clean their houses before the New Year to in a year there are annual fireworks displays in Hong Kong – on New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and National Day. 2,000 The approximate number of years since fireworks were invented during It also tells us that setting off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year has been a custom since then. Do you know why people set off firecrackers during the Chinese New Year? The Origin of Firecrackers in Chinese New Year. In ancient Chinese legends, there was a kind of beast called Nian in Chinese, who lived in the deep sea all the year.
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