One of the main reasons Chinese New Year is celebrated is to honor ancestors and family members who have passed away. Families gather to pay their respects at ancestral gravesites and offer prayers and offerings to ensure the well-being of their deceased loved ones in the afterlife. Chinese New Year is also a time to ward off evil spirits and 2. Why Is Chinese New Year Celebrated? There are several reasons to celebrate Chinese New Year: First, legend states that the Chinese New Year stemmed from an ancient battle against the Nian, a terrifying beast that attacked people and ate children. The people used fireworks and firecrackers to chase the beast away. 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 New Delhi: On Jan. 29, Asian American communities around the U.S. will ring in the Year of the Snake with community carnivals, family gatherings, parades, traditional food, fireworks and other festivities. In many Asian countries, it is a festival that is celebrated for several days. In diaspora The origin of the Chinese New Year Festival can be traced back to about 3,500 years ago. Chinese New Year has evolved over a long period of time and its customs have undergone a long development process. A Legend of the Origin of Chinese New Year. Like all traditional festivals in China, Chinese New Year is steeped with stories and myths. It is a celebration of togetherness, hope and the enduring spirit of humanity. Such is its importance that Chinese New Year is one of 44 Chinese traditions officially inscribed as world cultural heritage by UNESCO. This year on January 29, China welcomes the Year of the Snake, the sixth of the 12-year cycle of zodiac animals. Lunar New Year may be called different names in different East Asian countries and communities, but it is celebrated on the same date (and surrounding days) with similar celebrations. China. In China, Lunar New Year is known as Chinese New Year or in Chinese 'Spring Festival' (Chunjie). The celebrations traditionally last for 16 days, beginning 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, like Singapore and Malaysia. Chinese New Year celebration is not exclusive to immediate family members, but among all relatives and friends. Married couples should visit the wife’s parents on the second day of the New Year. During the following days, people visit different relatives, bringing gifts and red envelopes to express care, love, and good wishes. It is not only celebrated in China. Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore also celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday. The two-week celebration includes family and friends, feasting and fireworks, parties and parades. For more than 3,000 years, Lunar New Year was just what it sounds like—the beginning of a new year in the Chinese calendar. 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. Sample 3: Out-of-office message for Chinese New Year. Subject: Out of Office: Chinese New Year. Thank you for your email. I am out of the office celebrating Chinese New Year and will be unavailable from [start date] to [end date]. During this time, I will have limited email access and may be unable to respond promptly. Celebrating Chinese New Year Worldwide. Chinese New Year has transcended borders, becoming a global celebration. In cities with large Chinese communities, such as New York, San Francisco, London, and Singapore, you’ll find huge celebrations. There are vibrant parades and festivities, showcasing Chinese culture to a wider global audience. It’s celebration after celebration. For Filipinos, the Christmas season (and New Year’s Day included) is immediately followed by yet another reason to celebrate. It’s not Valentine’s Day, no. It’s Chinese New Year, which traditionally marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, coinciding with the second new moon that follows the winter solstice. Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, begins this Friday, January 31. UNSPLASH Thyla Jane The entire celebration lasts for 15 days, and is filled with food, traditions (and superstitions), firecrackers, and excitement. In China, the spring festival marks the beginning of the new year. It falls on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar and involves a variety of social practices to usher in the new year, pray for good fortune, celebrate family reunions and promote community harmony. This process of celebration is known as ‘guonian’ (crossing the year). In the days preceding the festival As the last day of the lunar year, Chinese New Year's Eve (除夕 chú xī) is the day before Chinese New Year. It is a grand reunion time for the whole Chinese family. People will participate in many activities to celebrate the coming new year. Chinese New Year's Eve Traditions 1. Putting Up New Year Decorations Much like the celebration of the New Year in the Western world, Chinese New Year is all about the hopeful spirit of renewal. The holiday’s traditions, symbols and rituals are all meant to wipe the slate clean and prepare for prosperity, good luck and happiness in the new year. Simply put, every Chinese New Year is a new beginning. Lunar New Year, festival typically celebrated in China and other Asian countries that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. The dates of the holiday vary from year to year, beginning some time between January 21 and February 20.
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