The color red is commonly worn throughout Chinese New Year; traditional beliefs held that red could scare away evil spirits. [84] The wearing of new clothes is another clothing custom during the festival; [106] the new clothes symbolize a new beginning in the year. [84] Chinese New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. Chinese New Year 2025 will fall on Wednesday, January 29th. The date changes every year but is always somewhere in the period from January 21st to February 20th. 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 In south China, the Glutinous Rice Ball, Yuanxiao or Tangyuan in Chinese, is a traditional food for the Chinese New Year, just as the dumplings in north China. The balls are made of sticky rice flour stuffed with different fillings. Some do not have fillings. Their round shape symbolizes reunion, harmony and happiness. During the Chinese New Year, there are rich and colorful customs, strong New Year atmosphere and family affection, embodying the essence of traditional Chinese culture. Chinese New Year has a long history of nearly four thousand years and has formed some relatively fixed customs and traditions in its inheritance and development. Among China’s traditional holidays and celebrations, none ranks higher in importance than the Lunar New Year (農曆新年). Also known as the Spring Festival (春節), or simply Chinese New Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the grandest festival in China, usually with a 8 days' holiday. As the most colorful annual event, the traditional CNY celebration lasts longer, up to two weeks, and the climax arrives around the Lunar New Year's Eve. However, in the folk traditional sense, Chinese New Year starts from the Kitchen God Worshiping on the 23rd of the 12th lunar month (or even the Laba Festival), until the 19th of the first lunar month. Origins of Chinese New Year Naming Origin. The name “Spring Festival” literally means a festival celebrating the arrival of spring. Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year on China's traditional lunisolar calendar. It is a time for family gatherings. It is the most important festival in China (where it is known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival), and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea (where it is known as Seollal), in Vietnam (as Tet), as well as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries Also called the Spring Festival (春节 Chūnjié), the Chinese New Year celebrates the beginning of the Chinese year based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar and officially ends 15 days later with the Lantern Festival (元宵节 Yuánxiāo jié). Celebrate Lunar New Year with traditional and modern Chinese desserts, from almond cookies that promote good fortune to candied fruit that re-creates a popular street food. Anyone can use a little While you are studying how to greet everyone in Chinese for the Lunar New Year, remember to check out our Dos and Don’ts in our Chinese New Year Traditions post to properly prepare yourselves to ring in the new year! 23 Common Chinese New Year Greetings 1. 新年快乐 – Happy Chinese New Year. The most common greeting used during the Chinese New Year red envelopes are a traditional gift for children or elderly people during Chinese New Year. In China, the red envelope (money) is called ya sui qian (压岁钱 /yaa sway chyen/), which means 'suppressing Sui [the demon]money'. Chinese New Year superstitions are traditional beliefs and practices observed during the Lunar New Year to bring good luck and ward off misfortune. These customs range from avoiding certain actions to performing specific rituals, all aimed at ensuring a prosperous year ahead. 20 Chinese New Year Superstitions 1. Avoid Cleaning on New Year’s Day 8 Things You Might Not Know About Chinese New Year; All about Chinese New Year: taboos, wishes and magic words; Useful Phrases for Spring Festival Celebrations; Bring Yourself Good Luck on本命年 (Běnmìngnián) 8 Common Homophonic Puns in Chinese New Year Festival ; Phrases. 1. 恭贺新年。 Gōnghè xīnnián. A Happy New Year to you. 2 Chinese New Year decorations for 2025 focus on the Year of the Snake, featuring red and gold colors, snake motifs, and traditional symbols New Year 150 New Year Affirmations for Success in 2025 The Chinese New Year is based on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar, which influences the timing and cultural significance of the celebrations. Each year on the Chinese calendar is associated with a specific animal sign, influencing cultural traditions and beliefs surrounding luck and personal traits for those born in that year. Some believe that this sweeps away bad luck and makes room for incoming blessings. However, sweeping or cleaning on New Year’s Day is avoided, as it could sweep away good fortune. Special Foods and Festive Customs of Chinese New Year. Food is an essential part of Chinese New Year celebrations, with each dish carrying symbolic meanings. The legal holiday is seven days long, from the Lunar New Year's Eve to the sixth day of the first lunar month. Some companies and public institutions enjoy a longer holiday up to 10 days or more, because in common knowledge among Chinese people, the festival lasts longer, from the Lunar New Year's Eve to the 15th day of the first lunar month (Lantern Festival). This article will introduce the 4 most common ways to say Happy New Year in Chinese, including how to say Happsy New Year in Cantonese and Mandarin. In addition, each Happy New Year comes with Chinese pronunciation, pronunciation audio, and English explanation, ensuring that even beginners can easily say Happy New Year.
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