How to spell Chinese New Year. When does Chinese New Year start? Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year 2018 begins on the night of February 15-16. According to the Chinese calendar, 2018 is the Year of the Yellow Earth Dog. Traditionally, the New Year in China is celebrated for several days. We'll tell you what kind of holiday this is and why after the New Year you can't buy shoes and exchange congratulations in the bedroom.

01 When is Chinese New Year in 2018?

According to the Chinese calendar, the Year of the Yellow Earth Dog begins on the night of February 15-16, 2018. In the East, New Year is one of the longest holidays because Chinese New Year lasts 15 days.

02 Why is Chinese New Year 2018 dedicated to the Dog?

China has used the lunar calendar since ancient times. Chinese New Year occurs on the second new moon after the winter solstice.

There are a total of twelve totem symbols in the Chinese astrological calendar, which replace each other and form twelve-year cycles. Superimposed on these cycles are two more - the five main elements (fire, water, wood, earth, metal) and two types of energy - Yin and Yang.

Coming on the night of February 16, the Year of the Dog is the eleventh in the 12-year cycle, its Yang energy, the year is also subordinate to the energy of the earth, which, according to Chinese tradition, is associated with the color yellow. Therefore, 2018 is dedicated to the Yellow Earth Dog.

03 How is Chinese New Year celebrated?

This holiday is also called “meeting after separation”, so Chinese New Year is usually celebrated with family. At this time, the Chinese go on vacation, because it is customary to celebrate the New Year from 11 to 15 days.

For the beginning of the Chinese New Year, people decorate their houses and streets in accordance with national traditions. They clean the apartment and prepare the festive table - this helps to appease the family gods. It is believed that there should be a lot of dishes at the holiday; fish and chicken delicacies, rice, dumplings and beans must be prepared.

On Chinese New Year, it is customary to gather around a richly laid festive table, set off fireworks, and give gifts to loved ones. In China, colorful parades with dragon dances are held on New Year's days.

04 What not to do for Chinese New Year 2018?

There are several prohibitions for Chinese New Year. It is believed that all debts should be paid off before the New Year. Russians have the same tradition for the New Year. It is believed that borrowing money on New Year's Day is not worth it, because it will harm your financial condition.

At the festive table you need to talk only about the future.

In the first days of the Chinese New Year, you should not clean the house so as not to sweep away your good luck. At this time, it is not recommended to wash or cut your hair, because you can “cut off” or “wash away” your luck. It is not recommended to use knives so as not to “cut off” happiness.

It is believed that on Chinese New Year you should not wash your hair, because it can wash away good luck. And if a woman is envious.

Empty jars should be thrown away before Chinese New Year. If there are empty cans in your apartment, you will live in poverty for a year.

It is believed that on Chinese New Year you should not exchange greetings in the bedroom. Otherwise, you risk attracting 33 misfortunes.

If you cry and swear at the holiday table, you will live in tears all year.

My curiosity about the symbols, about the life of China and its citizens has not yet dried up. And these days, when everyone around is celebrating the New Year, I would like to talk about how it is celebrated in China...
New Year is the most popular folk holiday in China, which is celebrated twice: on January 1, as in most Christian countries, and during the new moon - the so-called “Chinese New Year” - Chunjie (Spring Festival). New Year celebrations in China begin on the first day of the new moon and last 15 days until the full moon, i.e. 2015 will begin on February 19, symbols: Goat (Sheep), Tree. Blue.
The history of Chinese New Year celebrations goes back many centuries, and it does not have a fixed date. Through complex calculations, ancient Chinese astronomers calculated that their New Year would always occur between January 21 and the last days of February, when the end of the cold winter period comes, it becomes warm, and the renewal of nature begins. Therefore, the New Year in China is called the Spring Festival, and since ancient times the Chinese have associated with it hopes for future family happiness, health and well-being.

In China, many traditions and New Year's superstitions are associated with the New Year. Before the New Year, five long strips of paper were hung on the door lintel, symbolizing the “five types of happiness”: luck, honor, longevity, wealth and joy.

According to ancient tradition, it is necessary to create noise and din when celebrating the New Year. The lighting of fireworks on New Year's Day in China, as well as explosions of firecrackers, are associated with the legend that on New Year's Eve, evil spirits, expelled from different places, look for a new refuge, settle in it and throughout the coming year cause various troubles to their owners. Before the invention of firecrackers and firecrackers, any household items that were at hand were used to create noise. From the 14th century n. e. In China, on New Year's Eve, a custom arose of throwing bamboo sticks into the oven, which, when burned, made a strong crackling noise and thereby scared away evil spirits. Later, these sticks were replaced by firecrackers and pyrotechnics, but the name remained the same.

There was also a belief that evil spirits are afraid of the color red, so on this day the color red predominated everywhere. Before the New Year, red strips of paper were glued to a variety of objects.
Some of the old New Year's rituals are a thing of the past in big cities, but are sometimes found in rural areas. These customs included sealing windows and doors with paper; the doors had to be closed to prevent evil spirits from entering the house.
According to established tradition, all household chores must be completed by the beginning of the holiday. Cleaning should start from the threshold and end in the middle of the home. By the evening before the holiday, all brooms, scrapers, brushes, buckets, rags and other equipment should be put away in places invisible to the eye.

It is also associated with the legend that on New Year's Eve, the gods bestow good luck on each home for the coming year, which is believed to settle as dust on the eve and during the celebration of this event. Therefore, it is believed that if anyone takes revenge or cleans up during the New Year, he runs the risk of throwing away his luck and bringing disaster to the house and all family members.

Instead of a Christmas tree in China they decorate the so-called Tree of Light with flowers, garlands and lanterns. On the gates of houses, in the most prominent places, paired inscriptions and pictures with wishes of happiness, health, longevity are certainly posted, and the windows are decorated with beautiful paper patterns.

Among the New Year's decorations at home, a place of honor was given to flowers, primarily peonies, which symbolized wealth and nobility. Daffodils and orchids, symbols of marital harmony, were very popular, especially in the south of the country. Custom required placing vases of flowers on both sides of family altars on New Year's Day. Many exhibited whole bouquets of peonies, orchids, quince branches and cinnamon, since the combination of their names, spoken out loud, could be perceived as a phrase with a good meaning: “the wealth and nobility of the jasper chambers.”

On New Year's Day, a so-called tree was set up in the house, from which money was shaken. They poured a pile of boiled rice into the tub, covered it with fruit, and put a persimmon on top, into which a cypress branch was inserted. Copper coins were tied to the branch using red threads. The “Money Tree” was intended to ensure wealth and prosperity in the coming year.
Oil lanterns, often with “lucky” hieroglyphs inscribed on them, were a mandatory part of New Year’s home decoration.

Usually, lanterns were placed next to auspicious pictures or inscriptions in rooms and on the walls of houses. Lanterns played a dual role: initially they embodied the noble power of light that dispersed dark forces, but over time they began to be perceived primarily as a decoration for New Year's celebrations.
The Chinese New Year's outfit must include red, be it at least socks or underwear: the color red, they believe, brings happiness.

In China, great importance is attached to the festive New Year's dinner, during which the whole family gathers at one table; seats at the table are also provided for those family members who, for one reason or another, are absent from the New Year celebration. The bountiful festive table set on New Year's Eve (or "chuxi" according to Chinese custom) is traditionally called "nanye fan" (which means "dinner on New Year's Eve").

According to local beliefs, as you celebrate the New Year, so it will turn out. Therefore, the Chinese carefully ensure that the festive table is bursting with a variety of treats. It is customary to prepare a festive dinner a few hours before the New Year, so that in the last hours of the old year you do not have to use a knife, which, according to popular belief, can accidentally cut off your happiness and good luck.
The main thing is that the table is plentiful. An indispensable decoration of the Chinese table is jiaozi. These are dumplings in which the whole family takes part in the preparation. Dumplings are a figurative embodiment of one of the main wishes: the birth of sons. And in the south of the country, for the New Year they prepare soup with dumplings and noodles, symbolizing longevity.

New Year's Eve dinner cannot do without dishes of chicken, fish and “doufu” - bean curd, because in Chinese the names of these products are consonant with words meaning “happiness” and “prosperity”.
Generally speaking, all dishes that are traditionally served for Chinese New Year carry their own symbolism. Everything that is served on the table has a certain meaning, for example, noodles mean longevity, red pepper indicates happiness, fish brings prosperity, and so on. Particular importance is attached to the dessert in the form of sweet rice cakes: once upon a time in rich families, a small bar of gold, silver or a precious stone was placed in one of them. As you may have guessed, the one who gets a pie filled with jewels will find happiness and good luck for the whole next year.

The dinner ends with “chusi” - the distribution of “happiness money” in a red envelope to the children. This is the only gift that is not given in pairs. Otherwise, the Chinese, following tradition, make paired offerings: this brings harmony to the family. The family spends the night together talking, playing or watching TV, waiting for the New Year to come. This waiting is called shousui.

And in the morning, people with their entire families go to congratulate relatives and neighbors, following the main rule: the time has come for reconciliation and forgiveness of all grievances.
In China, there is also a tradition that originated in ancient times: during the New Year celebration, when you come to visit, you present your hosts with two tangerines, and when you leave, you receive two other tangerines from your hosts. The emergence of this tradition is associated with the fact that in Chinese the pronounced “para mandarin” is consonant with the word “gold”.

In China, in general, on New Year’s Day it is customary to give gifts of paired items that symbolize unity and family harmony: two vases, two mugs, etc. It is not customary to give watches, especially to older people; give toys and children's things to those who do not have children or are still awaiting their birth. Usually, guests give New Year's gifts to the hosts before leaving, sometimes even leaving them secretly.
The New Year is followed by three holidays: Chui, Chuer and Chusan, during which friends and relatives pay each other visits and give gifts. Then the holiday resumes, and the festivities continue for another two weeks.

During the festive performances, traditional lion and dragon dances are performed. The lion dance, symbolizing protection in the new year from troubles and misfortunes, spread throughout China and began to be performed during the Chunjie festival in the 14th-16th centuries.
The dance of dragons also has a long history. It was included in festive rituals back in the 12th century and expressed people’s admiration for the dragon.

The dragon, made of paper, wire and willow twigs, can reach 8-10 m. Its body is flexible and consists of a different, but always odd number of parts (9, 11, 13). Each part is controlled by one dancer using a pole; the undulating, writhing movements of the dragon require great coordination among all participants in the dragon dance.

Two weeks of festivities after the New Year, on the first full moon after Chuntjie, that is, on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the Yuanxiaojie festival (the festival of the first night of Emperor Wendi), dating back to the 2nd century BC, is celebrated. e. On this day, Emperor Wendi of the Western Han Dynasty took the throne, having won a difficult struggle with his rivals. Later, once a year on this day, he left the palace to have fun with his people.
Like the Spring Festival, Yuanxiaojie is celebrated within the family circle. For dinner, a special dish is always served - yuanxiao, which is snow-white balls of rice flour the size of a small chicken egg boiled in water. Yuanxiao is a symbolic wish for happiness to the family. Another name for Yuanxiaojie is Dengjie (Lantern Festival). This is due to the spread in the 1st century AD. e. Buddhism in China. As a sign of respect to Buddha, on this day they visited the temple and lit lanterns. And today in Beijing parks on the Dengjie holiday, exhibitions and competitions of lanterns made of glass, paper, and silk are held.

China becomes a continuous street procession, and thousands of lit lanterns scare away evil spirits. On this day, it is customary to place steamed rice cakes on the altar, which stick to the hands - they are intended for the Spirit of the Hearth, or the Spirit of the Kitchen - Zaosheng.
After the Spring Festival, the brownie, as we would call it, flies to the sky and tells the souls of our ancestors how the past year went for their descendants. And so that he doesn’t say too much, they feed him sticky cakes...
This, in fact, ends the period of celebrating the Chinese New Year or Chunjie...

The history of celebrating the New Year according to the Chinese calendar dates back to ancient times.

It does not have a fixed date; it is calculated according to the lunisolar calendar and occurs on one of the days between January 21 and February 21. In 2019, it will come on the night of February 5th.

The arrival of the New Year according to the Chinese calendar is eagerly awaited not only in Asian countries. The whole world froze in anticipation of the new patron of the year, but few people know the history of the origin of this holiday.

Story

Chun Jie has an ancient history, dating back to the rituals of sacrifice to deities and remembrance of ancestors, which were performed at the end and beginning of the year in the Shang era 1600-1100 BC.

According to legend, a terrible monster named Chun or Nian (in Chinese means “year”), with horns on his head, who lived in the depths of the sea, got into the habit of crawling into the nearest village on New Year’s Eve and devouring everything in sight - animals, grain, supplies, etc. even people.

People were afraid of the monster and prepared in advance for its annual appearance. To protect their families, on the eve of the holiday they stored food at the doorstep of their home. It was believed that the more you put in, the more likely it was that the beast would be satisfied with the offering and would not harm the people. And they themselves, taking with them the most important things, left the village for the mountains.

This went on for many years. One day, on the eve of the day when the monster was supposed to emerge from the sea, an old man appeared in the village with a sack over his shoulders, a gray mustache and a staff.
However, due to the bustle, no one paid attention to him. Only one old woman advised him to leave quickly, since Nyan would appear soon. He replied that if they left him for the night, he would drive the monster away once and for all. The woman let the old man into her house, gave him food and left him to spend the night, but did not hope to find him alive in the morning.

The surprise of the returning villagers knew no bounds when the grandfather, safe and sound, moreover, having driven out the terrible monster, rested peacefully on the threshold of the house in a red painted robe.

The fire crackled cheerfully in the hut, the front door was painted red, and the remains of firecrackers lay on the floor. The old man said that Chun is most afraid of the color red and loud noise.

Other versions also say that the boy in red allegedly scared the monster. Whether this is true or a beautiful fiction is unknown, but no one has seen the monster since then.

And the Chinese to this day decorate their houses with red lanterns and scrolls and celebrate the New Year cheerfully and noisily, with firecrackers, garland lights and other tinsel that drives out evil spirits.

Later, fireworks were used to scare Chun away.

How to prepare

The Chinese begin preparing for the New Year by cleaning their home, during which they throw away all the trash and unnecessary things that have accumulated over the year. Together with garbage and rubbish, they throw out old, stagnant energy, giving way to new and living energy.

Particular attention is paid to decorating the house with traditional red color and its shades. The Chinese have a special ritual - paired inscriptions are posted at the entrance to the house, the walls of apartments and houses are decorated with special paintings from paper patterns.

REUTERS/ Sheng Li

It is customary to decorate houses with 8 ripe, juicy tangerines, since this number symbolizes infinity.

Not only homes are decorated with red; it is customary to wear special red clothes. After all, it is this color, according to legend, that drives away misfortune and sorrow from the house.

The Chinese do not put up a Christmas tree - they replace it with trays of oranges and tangerines. But they need to be laid in a special way - always in a circle and there should be exactly 8 pieces of each fruit, no less and no more.

However, more and more often you can find those who, instead of citrus fruits, decorate small artificial trees, which are decorated with dried fruits or fresh fruits in sugar.

How to celebrate

In the old days, the holiday lasted a whole month; nowadays, the Chinese have reduced the number of days off by half. Therefore, the holiday ends on the fifteenth day - the grandiose Chinese Lantern Festival.

Traditionally, China celebrates the holiday for 15 days, each of which has its own traditions and customs.

The first day of the Chinese New Year begins with a festive dinner, loud fireworks and noisy festivities. The whole family must burn bamboo sticks. The Chinese believe that the louder the holiday, the happier and more joyful the year will be. Also on this day they go to the cemetery to visit their relatives in order to honor their memory.

The second day begins with prayer: families ask for health and happiness to all their loved ones; old people - longevity; business people and businessmen - prosperity and enrichment. For beggars, the second day of the holiday is a great success, because they can come to visit and ask for food and alms.

In the next two days, the Chinese try to respect all their friends and relatives and wish them a Happy New Year. They believe that this day must be spent with loved ones in order to be together next year. Since this period, all large corporations have started their work and everything is gradually returning to normal.

The fifth and sixth are dedicated to wealth and business, which is why the rest of the companies start working, but they don’t just go to work, they always set off fireworks.

The seventh day of the holiday, like the second, is customary to begin with prayer and veneration of God. It is believed that man was created on this day. In order for income to increase and business to flourish, the Chinese prepare a special raw fish salad called “Yusheng”.

Eighth, ninth, tenth - all the Chinese are already returning to work, and in the evenings they have small family festive dinners, always with prayer, after which they go to the temple to light special smoking candles.

The eleventh day is the day of the son-in-law, when the father-in-law always arranges a noisy and rich holiday for his daughter’s husband. Every father tries to respect him and arrange the best holiday for him.

For the next three days, everyone is mostly busy preparing for the main holiday - the Lantern Festival. Everyone buys decorations, lanterns, lantern canopies, and so on.

On the fifteenth and last day, concerts and theatrical performances are usually held, people with lit lanterns walk around the square with their families, and fireworks, firecrackers and firecrackers thunder around.

Traditions

On New Year's Eve, all family members, wherever they are, come home and gather around a richly laid festive table. Therefore, the Chinese call this holiday “meeting after separation.” This is the most enduring tradition of celebrating Chinese New Year.

The whole family discusses the past year - what has been achieved, what has been learned and what still remains to be accomplished.

Residents of the Celestial Empire believe that on New Year's Eve the spirits of deceased ancestors are present at the table, who are also participants in the holiday.

The main dish on the New Year's table is dumplings, which are shaped like a gold bar. Residents of the Celestial Empire are confident that this symbol of prosperity and wealth will bring good luck with the first minutes of the New Year according to the Chinese calendar 2019.

The table should also include treats such as fish and tofu. With these dishes, the Chinese thank the patron of the outgoing year for his generosity and indulgence.

Festive clothes must be in bright colors - red, gold, pink, green. The brighter the outfit, the greater the chance that an insidious and cunning spirit that can bring grief and loss will not penetrate the house.

It is not customary to give serious gifts for the New Year. More often they present red envelopes with money, various souvenirs, amulets and amulets, sweets and images of the symbol of the coming year.

Any gift, according to the rules, must be paired. The owner must be presented with two tangerines.

The color of the gift also plays a huge role. The main rule is that neither a gift nor gift paper should be white or blue. In this country, these colors represent death and funerals.

The gift itself is presented only in private and with both hands. But it is necessary to distribute gifts not chaotically, but from senior to junior.

It is also indecent to open a gift in front of everyone; this must be done in private, so as not to offend the giver with a careless look or word.

In Singapore and Malaysia there is an interesting and romantic tradition on this holiday. To do this, single ladies attach their phone number to Mandarin and then send the fruit along the river. Single men, in turn, catch these tangerines, eat them, and then call to meet the lady.

What not to do

On New Year's Day, during the festive feast, it is not customary to talk about the past year - all thoughts and conversations should be directed towards the future.

A festive outfit cannot be combined with black and white, since black is a symbol of failure, and white is the color of mourning.

The number “4” is also a symbol of death, so it should not be anywhere - neither on a gift, nor on money, and the number of bills should be either more or less.

During the first three days of Chinese New Year, the house should not be cleaned. During the New Year, good deities appear in all homes, giving happiness and good luck, which settle in the form of dust.

Usually, after the Chinese New Year, you should not buy shoes to avoid getting into trouble. And all because, “shoes” in Chinese is consonant with the Chinese “difficult”.

Also, in the first month you cannot cut your hair, otherwise failures will fall like an avalanche on your uncle on your mother’s side.

In the first days of the New Year celebration, you should not use knives or other sharp objects so as not to cut off your happiness.

Washing your hair during the New Year holidays means washing away good luck.

You cannot quarrel, sort things out, swear, shout or utter curses.

Borrow money. You must give away all the money you borrowed.

According to the Chinese calendar, on February 5, the year 4719 will begin - the year of the Yellow Earth Pig, which will last until January 25, 2020, when it will be replaced by the year of the White Metal Rat.

The pig is a revered animal in the Middle Kingdom. It symbolizes family happiness and wealth. The pig represents kindness, gentleness, peacefulness and patience.

The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.

: January 1, as in most Christian countries, and during the new moon - the so-called "Chinese New Year" - Chunjie (Spring Festival).

The history of Chinese New Year celebrations goes back many centuries. It does not have a fixed date; it is calculated according to the Far Eastern lunisolar calendar. The beginning of the year occurs on the second new moon after the winter solstice and therefore moves between January 21 and February 21.

Each year is associated with a specific zodiac sign and element.

In northern China, it is customary to eat dumplings (jiaozi) on New Year's Day, while in the south, they eat slices made from glutinous rice (niangao). Northerners prefer dumplings because in Chinese the word “jiaozi” is consonant with the words “farewell to the old and welcome to the new.” In addition, dumplings resemble traditional gold and silver bars in their shape and symbolize the desire for wealth. For the same reason, southerners eat "niangao", symbolizing the improvement of life every year.

The festive New Year's dinner ends with the distribution of "happiness money." Adults give children red envelopes containing money, which are supposed to bring good luck throughout the new year. In ancient times, New Year's money was presented in the form of one hundred copper coins tied together and symbolizing the hope of living to be a hundred years old. After the festive dinner, you should not go to bed so as not to miss your happiness.

In China, there is also a tradition that originated in ancient times: during the New Year celebration, when you come to visit, you present your hosts with two tangerines, and when you leave, you receive two other tangerines from them. The emergence of this tradition is associated with the fact that in Chinese “a pair of tangerines” is consonant with the word “gold”.

In China, in general, on New Year's Day it is customary to give gifts from paired items symbolizing unity, family harmony: two vases, two mugs, and so on.

It is not customary to give watches, especially to older people, or toys and children's things to those who have not yet had children. Usually, guests give New Year's gifts to the hosts before leaving, sometimes even leaving them secretly.

The onset of the New Year is followed by three holidays: Chui, Chuer and Chusan, during which friends and relatives pay each other visits and give gifts. Then the holiday resumes, and the festivities continue for another two weeks.

During the festive performances, traditional lion and dragon dances are performed. The lion dance, symbolizing protection in the new year from troubles and misfortunes, began to be performed and spread throughout China during the Chunjie festival in the 14th-16th centuries. The dance of dragons also has a long history.

It was included in festive rituals back in the 12th century and expressed people’s admiration for the dragon.

The dragon, made of paper, wire and willow twigs, can reach 8-10 meters. His body is flexible and consists of a different, but always odd number of parts. Each part is controlled by one dancer using a pole; the undulating, writhing movements of the dragon require great coordination among the participants.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

People tend to spend New Year holidays outside the state. Some go to the States, others to Europe, and others to the Middle Kingdom. Those who prefer the latter option are often disappointed because they do not know when New Year is in China.

As a result, they arrive in the country either too early or too late, while a short vacation does not allow them to stay.

Chinese people celebrate New Year on the first full moon. It comes after the full lunar cycle and precedes the winter solstice. Let me remind you that this event falls on December 21st. As a result, Chinese New Year can fall on January 21, February 21, or any day in between.

In 2013, the Chinese celebrated the New Year on February 10, 2014 for them began on January 31, and 2015 on February 19.

How to celebrate New Year in China

In China, as in other countries, New Year is the main and favorite holiday. True, called Chun Jie.

Residents of the state have been celebrating the New Year for more than two thousand years. According to historians, the Chinese first began celebrating the New Year during Neolithic times. At that moment, they celebrated several holidays that were prototypes of the New Year.

In the Celestial Empire, the New Year is celebrated at the end of winter according to the Lunar calendar. The date is floating, so the New Year holidays begin differently.

After the transition to the Gregorian calendar, the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire call the New Year the Spring Festival. People call him “Nyan”. Let's talk more about the celebration in China.

The Chinese New Year celebration is a real festival that lasts for half a month. At this time, every citizen of the country can count on a week of official holidays.
China hosts theatrical performances, pyrotechnic shows, and spectacular carnivals. Each of these events is accompanied by the launch of fireworks and the popping of firecrackers. The Chinese spend a lot of money on New Year's attributes. And this is not without reason!

Myths of the New Year

As an ancient myth says, on the eve of the New Year, a terrible monster with horns erupted from the depths of the sea, devouring people and livestock. This happened every day until an old beggar with a cane and a bag appeared in the village of Tao Hua. He asked local residents for shelter and food. Everyone turned him down except for an elderly woman who fed the poor man New Year's salads and provided him with a warm bed. In gratitude, the old man promised to drive out the monster.

He dressed in red clothes, painted the doors of houses with scarlet paint, lit fires and began to make loud noises using “fire rattles” made of bamboo.

The monster, having seen this, no longer dared to approach the village. When the monster left, the villagers held a big celebration. From that moment on, during the New Year holidays, the cities of the Celestial Empire turn red with decorations and lanterns. Fireworks constantly light up the sky.

This is how a list of mandatory New Year's attributes was formed: firecrackers, incense, firecrackers, toys, fireworks and red items.

Regarding the celebration, we can say that on the first night it is strictly forbidden to sleep. The people of China watch the year at this time.
On the first five-day holiday, they visit friends, but they cannot bring gifts. Only small children are given red envelopes with money.
Among the festive New Year's recipes, the Chinese prepare dishes whose names are consonant with good luck, prosperity and happiness. Fish, meat, soybean curd, cake.
As part of the Chinese festival, it is customary to honor departed ancestors. Each person makes small offerings of jewelry and treats to the spirits.
The New Year ends with the Lantern Festival. They are lit on every street of cities, regardless of size and population.

You have learned the intricacies of celebrating the New Year in China and are convinced that the Chinese New Year holidays are a colorful, amazing and unique event.

Traditions for Chinese New Year

In China, the New Year is celebrated differently from other countries in the world, since the Chinese remain faithful to their ancestors and do not forget New Year's traditions.

New Year's holidays are accompanied by general fun. Each family creates as much noise as possible in the house with the help of firecrackers and firecrackers. The Chinese believe that noise drives away evil spirits.
At the very end of the noisy celebration, the Festival of Lights is held. On this day, colorful events are held on city and rural streets with the participation of lions and dragons who engage in theatrical combat.
Celebrating the New Year in the Middle Kingdom is accompanied by the preparation of special dishes. All of them consist of products whose names sound the same as words symbolizing success and good luck.
Usually fish, oyster mushrooms, chestnuts and tangerines are served on the table. These words sound like wealth, prosperity and profit. Meat dishes and alcoholic drinks are found on the New Year's table.
If you are celebrating the New Year visiting a Chinese family, be sure to bring two tangerines to the owners of the house. Before leaving, they will give you the same gift, since two tangerines are the consonance of gold.
A week before the New Year, Chinese families gather around the table and report to the gods for the past year. The God of the Hearth is considered the main one. He is pampered with sweets and smeared with honey.
Before the celebration, five paper strips are hung on the door. They mean five types of happiness - joy, luck, wealth, longevity and honor.
Evil spirits are afraid of the color red. It is not surprising that during the New Year holidays it is red that dominates.
In many countries, it is customary to put up a Christmas tree for the New Year. In the Celestial Empire, the Tree of Light is erected, which is traditionally decorated with lanterns, garlands and flowers.
The Chinese New Year table is rich in abundance. True, they are in no hurry to use a table knife at the table, because this way you can lose happiness and good luck.
In China, New Year is celebrated until dawn. Adults are given objects that symbolize the desire for luck and health. These include flowers, sports memberships and lottery tickets. Beautiful and pleasant gifts.

Without traditions, it is impossible to imagine a real New Year in the Middle Kingdom. You now know when the New Year holidays are in China, how they are celebrated and what is offered. If you're tired of spending New Year's holidays at home, go to the Middle Kingdom. This country will give you the opportunity to diversify your life.

Video of New Year's Eve in a Chinese village

Guided by experience and memories, I will say that the Chinese New Year will provide previously unknown impressions, vivid emotions and a New Year's mood.