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. 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. Chinese New Year, is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. With these 55 interesting facts about the Chinese New Year, let’s learn more about its – history, how and where it is celebrated, foods and rituals associated with it, and lots more 1. Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival includes dragon boat races, lantern displays, and cultural events. Fun Facts. Here are some fun and lesser-known facts about Chinese New Year that might surprise you. The world's largest human migration occurs during Chinese New Year as millions travel home to be with family. Beautiful red lanterns are displayed throughout Chinese New Year festivities. 5. The Chinese New Year Is The Longest Holiday In China. In addition to being China’s most important holiday, the Chinese New year stands also as the country’s longest. The Spring Festival celebrations last for over 2 weeks! 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 5 No sweeping on Chinese New Year's Day. This is an interesting fact about Chinese New Year – all the sweeping and cleaning have to be finished before the New Year’s Eve and it is not allowed to sweep on the New Year’s Day. According to the old saying, if you sweep on that day, it means you just sweep wealth and good fortune out of the house. 5. The Chinese New Year is also known as Spring Festival. Spring is considered the season of new things and fresh starts. It brings with it bloom, harvests, and all things new. Chinese New Year is known as the Spring festival since it signals the ‘Start of Spring’, in line with the traditional lunisolar calendar. People celebrate new Sunday is the beginning of the Chinese New Year. Here are five interesting facts about the Chinese New Year offered by the National Museum of Asian Art. 1 Also known as Lunar New Year. During Chinese New Year, you might see decorations with five bats together. These bats represent the “Five Blessings”: health, wealth, love of virtue, a natural death, and a peaceful life. People believe that these blessings will bring happiness and prosperity. New Year Linked To 12 Animals. According to Chinese Lunar new year, each New Year is linked to one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. Year 2025 marks the Year of the Snake, the sixth animal in the zodiac cycle. The Snake is considered to be symboling wisdom, elegance, and intuition. 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. Rice rituals at Chinese New Year. Rice is a staple at any time of year, but at Chinese New Year it has an even higher distinction. Nian Gao are traditional rice cakes made from glutinous rice flour, wheat flour, golden slab sugar, coconut cream, vegetable oil and water and are popular in Southern China – they can even be decorated with a red date on top or pan-fried with eggs. BEIJING (Reuters Life!) - Chinese people across the world welcome the lunar new year on February 3, a period also known as the Spring Festival and marked by a long holiday. During Chinese New Year, certain dishes are enjoyed for their symbolic meanings, believed to bring prosperity and luck. Here are five dishes that are considered lucky for this auspicious celebration. January 29, 2025 Nian Gao – Rice rituals at Chinese New Year Rice is a staple at any time of year, but at Chinese New Year it has an even higher distinction. Nian Gao are traditional rice cakes made from glutinous rice flour, wheat flour, golden slab sugar, coconut cream, vegetable oil and water and are popular in Southern China – they can even be decorated with a red date on top or pan-fried with eggs. 5. Guo Nian Hao means Happy New Year! There are lots of different greetings that can be said during the Chinese New Year. One of the best ones to say is ‘Guo Nian Hao’. This means Happy New Year! 6. Children receive red envelopes with money inside. During Chinese New Year, children receive red envelopes. The envelopes have money inside of them! They especially love it when it’s their zodiac year. Here are some fun facts about Chinese New Year to share with your kids: There are 12 zodiac animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig; Chinese New Year follows the Lunar Calendar so the date changes every year. Chinese New Year dinner is the most Facts About Chinese New Year. For families that don't celebrate, here's a few quick facts to help your family learn more about this holiday: Chinese New Year is an annual 15-day festival, celebrating the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. The Chinese New Year Date Differs From Most New Year Celebrations in the West Most Western New Year celebrations occur on January 1st of the traditional Gregorian “solar” calendar; this date marks the start of the new year and one revolution of the Earth around the Sun.
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