Holidays Explained > History of Chinese New Year

 

What is Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is a festival that traditionally begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. It is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the New Year celebrations of its geographic neighbors, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction.  

What is the history of the holiday?

It has been told through tales and legends from a long time ago that at the beginning of Chinese New Year there was a fight against a mythical beast called Nian who would always come on the first day of the New Year to destroy livestock, crops, and even villagers. In order to protect themselves, villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of each year so that Nian would eat the food and not attack any more people. One time coincidentally, people saw that Nian was scared away by a little child wearing red. Afterwards every time before the New Year, villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors and even set off firecrackers to frighten away the beast. From then on, Nian never returned to the village again, but the villagers continued with the custom of hanging red decorative items around their houses in case Nian ever comes back again.

Where is it celebrated?

Chinese New Year is a holiday that is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, and also in various Chinatowns around the world.

Red "Fu" Chun-Lian

What Is associated with this holiday?

The character “fu” or “auspiciousness” is the most commonly seen word displayed on decorations for Chinese New Year. This sign is usually seen hanging upside down, since the Chinese word “dao” or “upside down” sounds the same as “dao” or “arrive”. Therefore, it symbolizes the arrival of luck, happiness, and prosperity.

Red is the predominant color used during Chinese New Year. Red is an auspicious color and the symbol of joy, virtue, truth, and sincerity.

Another part of Chinese New Year is the Chinese zodiac signs. The idea of these zodiac signs is similar to horoscopes, except horoscopes are monthly in a year whereas Chinese zodiac signs each takes up an entire year. Therefore a whole cycle of these zodiac signs would be 12 years as horoscopes cycle in 12 months. This year is the Rabbit year. If you would like to know what zodiac sign you are, you can also visit our blog and see a full chart of the years and the corresponding sign or you could also read the story right below to understand how the zodiacs were chosen!

How is it celebrated?

For the Chinese, Chinese New Year is the most important festival in the year. Businesses come nearly to a halt and everyone’s attention in a household focuses on preparing the celebration and the celebration itself. In preparation for the event, homes were cleaned thoroughly to rid all the inauspicious breaths, or “huiqi”, that was collected throughout the previous year. Cleaning the house is also an act to appease the gods who will come down from heaven to make inspections of homes. Paper icons and food were placed as ritual sacrifices to offer to these gods and ancestors.

Lion Dance Costume

One popular traditional dance in the Chinese culture is the lion dance, which is a dance that mimics a lion's movements in an elaborately made colorful lion costume. During the Chinese New Year, lion dance troupes from Chinese martial art schools will visit the community and perform the traditional custom of "cai ching", meaning "plucking the greens", as a quest by the "lion" to pluck auspicious green vegetables such as lettuce and fruits like oranges. Ultimately, the lion dance is believed to bring good luck and fortune to the business and also serves as a popular form of entertainment on the busy streets or shows during the Chinese New Year.

People also hang up scrolls with festive lucky sayings adorning them as decorative items and also to ward off evil spirits. Firecrackers are also set off during this time to frighten and keep away bad spirits. Another important rite during this holiday is elders giving red envelopes, or hong bao, with money to children. This act is thought to bring fortune and good luck in the new year to the elders who pass out envelopes. Gathering for meals is also an important activity during the Chinese New Year, as family members and friends gather at the table to share a full table of delicious new year’s dishes.

Chinese Red Lanterns

Decorating for this holiday

Traditionally, people will buy presents, decoration, food, and new clothing to celebrate the New Year. It is also tradition that windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper cut outs with themes of “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity.” In addition, people also decorate their home with beautiful red Chinese knots, red lanterns, or imitation red Chinese firecrackers. Red envelopes are also given to children and juniors by the married or elders.

For this holiday, you would have to decorate your home because most likely you will have guests over for a Chinese New Year dinner. Tape up some red scrolls with messages for luck on your windows and doors to liven up your home. Round up traditional red Chinese lanterns and firecrackers to dress up corners or any part of your house. If you think your dinner tables need décor, pick up some Chinese New Year centerpieces or tie balloons onto chairs as party favors for your guests. See our Chinese New Year Decorations to start decorating now!





Interesting Fact

San Francisco, California, claims its Chinese New Year parade is the biggest celebration of its kind outside of Asia. The city has hosted a Chinese New Year celebration since the Gold Rush era of the 1860s, a period of large-scale Chinese immigration to the region.


The Chinese Zodiac Story

Chinese Zodiac Sign Wheel

There are several legends about how the animals were chosen for the Chinese zodiac. This is one of them.

"The Jade Emperor is the name of the Emperor of Heaven. Long ago, in China, the Jade Emperor decided there should be a way of measuring time. On his birthday he told the animals that there was to be a swimming race. The first twelve animals across the fast flowing river would be the winners and they would each have a year of the zodiac named after them.

All the animals lined up along the river bank. The rat and the cat, who were good friends, were worried because they were poor swimmers. Being clever they asked the strong ox if he would carry them across the river. 'Of course' said the kind ox. 'Just climb on my back and I will take you across.'

The rat and the cat quickly jumped up and were very excited when the ox soon took the lead in the race. They had almost reached the other bank when the rat pushed the cat into the river leaving him to struggle in the water. Then just before the ox was about to win the race the rat leapt on his head and on to the bank to finish first.

'Well done,' said the Jade Emperor to the proud rat. 'The first year of the zodiac will be named after you.' The poor ox had been tricked into second place and the second year of the zodiac was named after him.

Shortly after the exhausted tiger clawed his way to the river bank to claim third place. Swimming across the river had been an enormous struggle for him against the strong currents. The Emperor was so delighted with his efforts that he named the third year after him.

Next to arrive was the rabbit, who hadn't swum across at all. He hopped across on some stepping stones and then found a floating log which carried him to the shore.

'I shall be very happy to call the fourth year after you,' the surprised Jade Emperor explained.

Just then a kind dragon swooped down to take fifth place. ‘Why didn’t you win the race, as you can fly as well as swim?' the Jade Emperor asked. 'I was held up because some people and animals needed water to drink. I needed to make some rain,' the dragon explained. 'Then when I was nearly here I saw a poor little rabbit on a log in the water and I blew a puff of wind so that the log would float to the river bank.'

'Well that was very kind of you and now you are here you will have the fifth year of the zodiac named after you.'

The next thing the Jade Emperor heard was the sound of the horse’s hooves. Just as he was thinking the horse would be the next animal to arrive, a sneaky snake wriggled out from around one of the horse’s hooves. The horse was so surprised that he jumped backwards giving the snake a chance to take the sixth place in the race. The poor horse had to be satisfied with seventh place.

Not long afterwards a raft arrived carrying the goat, the monkey and the rooster. They explained to the Emperor how they had shared the raft that the rooster had found. The goat and monkey had cleared weeds and pushed the raft to the shore. The Emperor was very pleased that the animals had worked together. He said the goat would be the eighth zodiac animal, the monkey the ninth and the rooster the tenth. The next animal to finish was the dog.  

Chinese Zodiac Signs

'Why are you so late when you are one of the best swimmers?' asked the Jade Emperor. 'The water in the river was so clean that I had to have a bath on the way,' explained the dog. His reward was to have the eleventh year named after him.

Now there was one place left in the zodiac and the Emperor wondered when the last winner would come. He had nearly given up when he heard a grunt from the boar.

'You took a long time to cross the river,' said the Emperor to the boar. 'I was hungry and stopped to eat,' explained the boar. 'After the meal I felt so tired that I fell asleep.'

'You have still done well,' said the Jade Emperor. 'The last year of the zodiac will be named after you.'
As for the cat that had been pushed into the water by the rat, he finally crawled out of the water but was too late to have a year named after him. He felt very cross with the rat and since then cats have never been friends with rats. From that day to this the Chinese Zodiac has followed this cycle of years named after these twelve animals."
 

Visit our blog for more tips on how to decorate for Chinese New Year!
 

A Sneak peek into our blog...

January 23, 2012 ~ Happy Chinese New Year 2012 from HomeSeasons!

HomeSeasons would like to wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year 2012! May the new lunar year bring you happiness! Keep checking out our blog for more holiday ideas for the upcoming holidays! Up next, we are preparing to share a lot of Valentine's Day ideas. Stay tuned!

January 19, 2012 ~ DIY Firecracker Decorations for Chinese New Year 2012

Firecrackers are a decorating staple for Chinese New Year. Visit our newest blog post to learn about the myth behind the use of firecrackers on Chinese New Year, and a DIY project to make some (non-functioning) firecracker decorations of your own!

January 17, 2012 ~ Traditions to Observe For Chinese New Year 2012

Chinese New Year 2012 is fast approaching (in 6 days)! Chinese New Year is a holiday celebrated by the Chinese for centuries. Many traditions have been started and continued to be observed to welcome the new year. Check out our newest blog post for a a few traditions the Chinese observe to celebrate Chinese New Year! 2012 is the year of the dragon!

February 3, 2011 ~ Happy Chinese New Year!

2011 is the year of the Rabbit! Fill your house with Rabbit joy! The more festive red Rabbit decorations, the luckier! Learn why Chinese New Year is not celebrated on January 1st!

January 20, 2011 ~ Chinese New Year sayings

It is the year of the Rabbit soon! Decorate your house with Chinese new year rabbit decorations! For those of you who are going to celebrate Chinese New Year on February 3th, we have a treat for you! In case you forgot or completely do not know any of the Chinese New Year greetings in Mandarin, we have found some phrases for you to practice to show your friends and family how cultured and prepared you are for the wonderful Chinese New Year festivities!

January 14, 2011 ~ What is your Chinese Zodiac sign?

In the west, we have horoscopes. In the east, they have Chinese zodiac signs. The idea of these zodiac signs are similar to horoscopes, except horoscopes are monthly in a year whereas Chinese zodiac signs each takes up an entire year. Therefore a whole cycle of these zodiac signs would be 12 years as horoscopes cycle in 12 months. Have you ever wondered which Zodiac sign you are?

January 9, 2011 ~ Origin of Chinese New Year

Do you know how Chinese New Year came about? We weren’t quite sure ourselves, so we performed a small research to find out all there is about this holiday. Start putting up Chinese New Years decoration afterwards and join the festivities!