Chinese New Year 2023

Today, January 22 of 2023, is the "Chinese New Year"

What is Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is a major traditional holiday in China and other countries with significant Chinese populations, such as Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. 

Legend states that the Chinese New Year stemmed from an ancient battle against the Nian (/nyen/, which sounds the same as 'year' in Chinese), a terrifying beast that showed up every Lunar New Year's Eve to eat people and livestock. To scare away the monster, people displayed red paper, burned bamboo, lit candles, and wore red clothes. These traditions have been continued until the present time. 

It is based on the lunar calendar and typically falls between January 21 and February 20. It is celebrated for 15 days and is marked by a variety of customs and traditions, such as the giving of red envelopes filled with money, family reunions, lion and dragon dances, and the lighting of fireworks. 

One of the most notable things about Chinese New Year is that it is the most important and widely celebrated holiday in China and Chinese communities around the world.

They would start their preparation by cleaning and decorating houses with red things as red is the main color for the festival, as red is believed to be an auspicious color for the Lunar New Year, denoting prosperity and energy — which ward off evil spirits and negativity. Red lanterns hang in streets; red couplets and New Year pictures are pasted on doors.

They will offer sacrifices to their ancestors; have a family reunion during Lunar New Year's eve; exchange red envelope(money) is called ya sui qian (压岁钱 /yaa sway chyen/), which means 'suppressing Sui [the demon]money'; and other gifts; set off firecrackers and fireworks; watch lion and dragon dance and lastly on the 15th day they will end the celebration with red lanterns.

In the Philippines, Chinese New Year is celebrated in a similar way to how it is celebrated in China and other countries with significant Chinese populations. Filipino-Chinese communities typically mark the occasion with lion and dragon dances, parades, and the giving of red envelopes filled with money. Many also participate in traditional Chinese New Year foods such as tikoy (sweet glutinous rice cakes) and dumplings. Additionally, It is also a common practice for Filipino-Chinese businesses to close during the first three days of the New Year, in order to celebrate with family and friends.

source: China Highlights

Thank you for reading and Happy Chinese New Year🏮🎇🐇