February is a month full of celebrations, including Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, and Mardi Gras.
For those of you who don’t know, it’s also Lunar New Year starting Saturday, February 10th.
If you’re not familiar with Chinese New Year celebrations, here’s what you need to know.
What is Chinese New Year?
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a 15-day festival usually celebrated in China and other Asian countries to mark the beginning of a new year, similar to New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in the United States. According to Britannica, the state.
Lunar New Year, which celebrates the arrival of spring, is China’s most important holiday and a time to reunite with loved ones.
It is said that every year, the Lunar New Year is a transition period for the zodiac, and each year has its own characteristics represented by that zodiac. According to history, each animal represents one of 12 stations or markers along the sun’s path through space.
In addition to the zodiac, the five elements of earth, water, fire, wood, and metal are mapped onto the traditional lunar calendar. Each element corresponds to an animal.
Lunar New Year is also the time to appreciate plum blossoms. Plum trees bloom very early in the season, so there may still be snow on the ground.
What is the zodiac sign for 2024?
The zodiac sign for 2023 is the rabbit, which is said to be quiet, graceful, kind and responsible. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, and you are said to be confident, intelligent, and enthusiastic.
The last year of the Dragon was 2012.
When is Chinese New Year in 2024?
According to History, the Lunar New Year is believed to date back to the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (140 BC-87 BC) and the Shang Dynasty in the 14th century BC.
Lunar New Year begins on the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon of the lunar calendar. Because the calendar is based on lunar cycles, the dates of holidays vary slightly each year, and in the Western calendar, Lunar New Year typically occurs between January 21st and February 20th.
Celebrate Lunar New Year in Delaware.When will the bell ring for Lunar New Year in Delaware in 2024? Introducing this year’s animals and more
According to Chinese New Year, the celebration lasts up to 16 days, but only the first seven days are considered holidays.
The 2024 Chinese New Year begins on Saturday, February 10th and culminates with the Lantern Festival on Saturday, February 24th.
The 12 zodiac signs are the Cub, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog, and the Pig.
Preparations for the Little Year’s New Year begin the week before the holiday and this year continue from February 2nd until New Year’s Eve. Preparations for the Lantern Festival will begin on February 21st.
How is Chinese New Year celebrated?
According to Britannica, during the 10 days before Lunar New Year, houses are cleaned to remove any bad luck left in the house, a tradition called “site cleaning” that brings goodwill and good luck to the house.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations are traditionally reserved for family celebrations, and also include religious celebrations honoring ancestors and raisi, red envelopes containing small amounts of money that families receive.
Fireworks and dancing are also popular during the holidays.
With thousands of years of history, Chinese New Year is full of legends. A famous legend is that of Nian, a terrifying beast who is believed to eat human flesh on New Year’s Day out of fear of the color red. According to Britannica, Nian is afraid of the color red, so Lunar New Year traditions include making loud noises, setting fires, pasting red paper decorations on doors, burning lanterns all night, and setting off firecrackers. It is said that it includes making sounds to scare Nian.
During the holidays, it is common to shop for holiday items at local markets and enjoy Chinese New Year reunion dinners. According to the National Museum of Asian Art, the feast features symbolic dishes such as whole fish, which represents abundance and brings good luck and wealth.
According to the Chinese New Year, there are also taboos associated with the Lunar New Year.
- The use of negative words should be avoided so as not to bring misfortune to loved ones or jinx yourself.
- Broken pottery or glass should be avoided as it is said to sever the connection to prosperity and good fortune. Legend has it that if you drop a bowl or plate, you should immediately wrap it in red paper while chanting auspicious words for peace and safety. After the holiday, the wrapped pieces need to be thrown into a river or lake.
- After the Lunar New Year begins, sweeping and vacuuming are also prohibited, as are showers on New Year’s Day. It is believed that if you clean or throw away trash during this period, your luck will be blown away. If you must clean, we recommend starting at the outer edges of the room and working your way inward. Garbage should be placed in bags and thrown away after the fifth day of the celebration.
- The use of knives, scissors and other sharp objects should be avoided, but the custom dates back to ancient times when it was used by the women of the house to take a break from their daily duties. It is believed that sharp objects will interrupt the flow of wealth and success in the new year. This taboo means that hair is not allowed to be cut until all festivals are over.
- Traditionally, when a woman marries, she lives with her husband or in-laws. According to tradition, a wife should not return to her parents on New Year’s Day. Because this indicates marital problems and can bring bad luck to the whole family. According to tradition, on her second day of the New Year, the wife’s family can visit, bringing children and small gifts.
- It is believed that no one should be asked to repay debts during the holiday, giving everyone the opportunity to celebrate in peace. Tradition says that demanding payment of debts during the holidays brings bad luck to everyone involved. Repayment of debts is allowed after the 5th day of the new year. Borrowing money while on vacation is also taboo. Because you might have to rent it all year long.
- You should avoid quarreling and crying, so that all problems can be solved peacefully and the new year can come smoothly.
- There is also a tradition that people should refrain from taking medicine during the Chinese New Year to avoid getting sick throughout the year. According to ChineseNew Year.net, it is safe to treat chronic and serious illnesses, but going to the doctor, undergoing surgery, or receiving injections during the holidays is considered to bring bad luck. .
- It is also considered taboo to give New Year’s blessings to those who are still sleeping, as it is believed that they will be bedridden for the entire year. Similarly, if you tell someone to “wake up,” that person will be rushed and intimidated for the rest of the year.
New date for parade:Breaking with tradition, Wilmington’s St. Patrick’s Day parade will be held earlier this year
lunar new year traditions
According to History, in Chinese culture, holiday meals include foods such as mochi musubi, moon-shaped rice cakes known as New Year mochi, and dumplings, which are stuffed with pretty coins for good luck. It may also happen.
Vietnamese celebrations include decorating homes with kumquat trees and flowers such as chrysanthemums, orchids, peach blossoms, and red gladioli. The five fruit platter is eaten to honor the ancestors, along with other ceremonial foods such as: Banh Chong, Guests are served rice cakes made with mung beans or pork wrapped in bamboo leaves, as well as motto, a sweet confectionery made of dried fruit or roasted seeds mixed with sugar.
in North Korea and South KoreaTokku, Rice cake soup is a popular holiday food that is believed to help you start the year with a clean mind and body. According to History, white patterned envelopes are used for celebratory items in these regions instead of the red envelopes used in China and Vietnam.
During the Lantern Festival, held on the last day of the Lunar New Year, houses are illuminated with colorful lanterns and traditional foods are eaten, such as: Yunxiao, Mochi musubi symbolizes family unity. Yusei, raw fish and vegetable salad. Fagao, prosperity cake, according to Britannica.
Children are also known to carry lanterns around the neighborhood at night to signal the end of the festival.
The main tradition of the Chinese New Year is to buy new clothes as a sign of renewal and wear them during the holiday. You can buy one for yourself, but for Chinese New Year, they are usually given as gifts by relatives during the holidays.
Popular attire for Chinese New Year is traditional items in festive colors, such as:
- The Tang suit is a combination of a riding jacket and a suit, made of brocade, with straight lapels, an upturned collar, traditional Chinese knots (frog buttons) and embroidery.
- Chinese dresses, tight dresses with intricate embroidery, stiff collars and frog buttons.
- China dress. A loose-fitting shirt or dress usually worn by men.
- Hanfu, clothing of the Han people. Usually a shirt with crossed lapels and long, wide sleeves is combined with a long skirt.
- Headdresses, ornate wands and pendants for hairstyles.
Chinese New Year greetings
Different cultures celebrate Lunar New Year with different holiday greetings.
During Tet in Vietnam, the traditional greetings are: “Chuk men nam mai” It means “Happy New Year” “Kun Chuk Tan Xuan” It means “to pray for the blessings of a new spring.”
In Mandarin, “Xinian Hao” means “Have a Happy New Year” or “Have a Happy New Year” and is used to wish close friends and family a happy New Year. “Sinnian Quaire,“Happy New Year”, which means “Happy New Year”, can also be used as a greeting.
Koreans often say “Sehebokmanibaduseyo” In the Seollal language, it means “May the new year bring you lots of good luck.”North Koreans say “Sehaerel Chuckhabnida” It means “Happy New Year.”
Have a tip or story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin. kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
Frequently asked questions about Black History Month:Happy Black History Month! Here’s what you need to know about its beginnings, 2024 theme, and more
Lent details:Do you want to know when Lent will start in 2024 and how it will be celebrated? Answers and more.
It’s about to happen:What is Mardi Gras? Find out when to celebrate, why it’s a holiday, and more.