Chinese New Year, the biggest holiday in China! Read the 10+1 things you need to know about this day!
1. The Chinese also call it “Spring Festival”!
In China, you will hear Chinese New Year referred to as the “Spring Festival”. Essentially, the celebration marks the end of the cold, winter season and the beginning of warm days and all that they entail: good harvests and crops and a fresh start!
2. It’s a movable feast!
The date of the Chinese New Year is a surprise! It is a variable holiday and can be celebrated from January 21 to February 20, with a total of 16 days of celebration.
3. All in red!
The decoration for the Chinese New Year, is done in red and it’s no coincidence! Red, apart from being the favorite color of the Chinese, is also the color of New Year’s Eve. Many people buy new red clothes every year in order to celebrate this day or change their entire wardrobe to welcome the new year.
4. Escort for rent!
The family rehabilitation of children is an issue of great concern to the Chinese, and young people who are single do their best to avoid criticism from relatives. So only on Chinese New Year’s Day, those who are single “hire” a partner exclusively to accompany them to the family table. If you still don’t have to go to a table, you can make yourself available for hire!
5. Cleaning is forbidden!
On Chinese New Year’s Day, you are not allowed to bathe, sweep or throw garbage outside the house. Why? So as not to chase good fortune out of your home. You never know where he’s hiding!
6. Your sign brings bad luck!
The year that your sign celebrates is usually not the luckiest for you, as luck does not favour the celebrants. What can you do about it? Go against bad luck with the colour red as your ally! Decorate the house with red objects, wear red clothes and jewellery and bad luck will stay away from you! Many even wear red underwear all year round to ward off bad luck!
7. Prayer to the Gods!
In the old days, this day was dedicated to prayers to the Gods to favour the crops and harvests of spring. Even today, many people donate the best fruits of the harvest to the Gods to thank them for blessing their produce.
8. The time monster!
According to mythology, “Chronos” was a monster who visited China once a year and scared the inhabitants. A brave boy killed the monster and the next day everyone took to the streets to celebrate. This story later became a custom to celebrate Chinese New Year.
9. The most fireworks of the year!
On Chinese New Year’s Eve , the sky is filled with light with countless fireworks being set off to celebrate the day. In addition to fireworks, the Chinese set fire to fake banknotes and gold bars, which is believed to bring good luck in the afterlife for people who are lost.
10. The biggest national holiday!
Chinese New Year lasts 15 days, but combined with the festivities before and after, the celebrations can last up to 40 days. It is China’s biggest national holiday.
+1. Wine lovers unite!
The Chinese love to drink and in particular wine. So they have created a wine which they drink exclusively on Chinese New Year’s Day. Also, there are certain games which relatives play while drinking New Year’s wine exclusively on that day.
Learn even more about Chinese New Year! Find out what is the Chinese Sign and your 10+1 things to know about China’s biggest holiday!
