Legend (one that came after Chinese New Year came to be) has it that, during Chinese New Year, a monster named Nian (or year) used to go to the villages once a year to eat livestock and children, and that the only way to banish this monster was through red-colored objects and loud noises. This sheds some light on the traditions explained below. Let’s get to know more similarities and differences between Chinese New Year and Christmas from the following comparison. Origins Christmas is an important Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus Christ, while Chinese New Year is based on a historic story of Nian (“year” in Chinese), a mythical monster that terrorized villages and Here are some of the differences and similarities between Christmas and Chinese New Year. Dates. The date of Christmas is counted according to the Gregorian calendar, a solar calendar, and it Red is a beloved shade for Christmas and a lucky one for Chinese New Year. Marking beginnings. While Chinese New Year signals the start of the new lunar year, Christmas once fell on the exact date of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and a time traditionally marking the “rebirth” of the sun. Lights Chinese New Year is celebrated a few weeks after the Christmas holiday, but these major holidays have many similarities. Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus for many, while Spring Festival is also based on a historic story. The Chinese New Year story tells of a monster that terrorized villages, and people were told to ward off [] After researching both Christmas and the Chinese New Year Festival, interesting similarities between the two unique celebrations came into fruition. For instance, both contain traditional meals, presents, feasts, decorations, songs, poems, God(s), folk lore, and are family oriented occasions. The Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) is the major holiday celebrated in China while Christmas is the most important red-letter day in the western world. Those festivals give people a chance to While Chinese New Year signals the start of the new lunar year, Christmas once fell on the exact date of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and a time traditionally marking the "rebirth" of the sun. Lights. Both Chinese New Year and Christmas dazzle with plenty of lights in decorations and rituals. Red is a beloved shade for Christmas and an auspicious one for Chinese New Year. Marking beginnings/endings. While Chinese New Year signals the start of the new lunar year, Christmas once fell on the exact date of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and arguably the end of the year’s sun cycle. Lights What are the similarities and differences between Christmas and Chinese New Year? While Christmas is a religious holiday with connections to Christianity, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Chinese New Year celebration has links to agrarian society when the Chinese used to pray for success during the coming farming year. By reading the major differences between Chinese Lunar New Year and Western New Year, you will get to know more about Chinese culture. If you are a cultural buff, it’s worthwhile to have a tour during Chinese Lunar New Year. See our sample tours for some inspiration. Explore China during Chinese Lunar New Year . 9 Days Chinese New Year Tour Chinese New Year is celebrated a few weeks after the Christmas holiday, but these major holidays have many similarities. This day is also known as 除夕 (chú xī) - New Year's Eve. The Chinese New Year technically begins on 初一 (chū yī) - the first day of the lunar year - and doesn't come to a close until 元宵节 (yuán xiāo jié) - the fifteenth day, also known as the Lantern Festival. That's fifteen whole days of celebration, so you could definitely The New Year that is celebrated popularly today on 1 st January is according to the widely used Gregorian calendar, which is based on old Roman calendar and the Julian calendar that succeeded it. Christmas is celebrated with a feast and family members giving each other gifts, while New Years is more often celebrated with alcohol, fireworks and Christmas vs New Year. The difference between Christmas and the new year is that Christmas is a religious festival that most Christians follow and it is observed on December 25th. The new year is the start of a new calendar year when the number of years in the calendar increases by one, which is referred to as the New Year. After living in China for 3 years as V-Trust Sales Manager and 1 year in Vietnam as V-Trust Country Manager, I am happy to share my experience and feelings, even if, for sure, I don’t know everything and they may not be exhaustive. Chinese New Year and the Vietnamese New Year (called Tết in Vietnam) actually have a lot in common. Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. Chinese New Year specifically refers to the celebration in China and among Chinese communities worldwide, while Lunar New Year is a broader term that includes various cultures and countries that follow the lunar calendar. The Chinese New Year is celebrated with Dances of the Lion and Dragon in street parades. Lions and dragons are acrobats wearing colorful costumes. The dances are noisy in order to drive out evil spirits and bring prosperity and luck for next year. Chinese New year traditions regarding Food There are some similarities and differences between Christmas in America and Chinese New Year in Taiwan. For example, the cultural backgrounds, traditions, and some conventional restrictions during the festival. While Chinese New Year signals the start of the new lunar year, Christmas once fell on the exact date of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and a time
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