Chinese New Year

Find out about Chinese New Year

Our trainer Hong has put together some fascinating facts on Chinese New Year:

Chinese New Year Greetings::The Chinese Calendar::What sign you are::Why there is no sign of the cat::What are red packets::Why it's good luck to eat sweets::Why it's bad luck to have your hair cut!

Chinese New Year Greetings

gōng xǐ fā cái          tóng xǐ tóng xǐ                       

A: 恭 喜 发 财！Happy New Year!  

B: 同 喜, 同 喜！Same to you!

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What animal year is he born in?      

                 tā shǔ shén me 他属 什么                  

 He's the year of the rat - he's 4   

                  tā shǔ shǔ tā sì suì le     他属鼠。 他四  

Q. How to be sure you have the correct animal year if you are born in January or February?

2015(02/19), 2016(02/08), 2017(01/28), 2018(02/16), 2019(02/05).

Why are there 12 animals in Chinese zodiac symbols? Why is there no cat in Chinese zodiac symbols?

Many years ago, according to an Ancient Chinese legend, Buddha decided to choose animals as the signs of 12 year cycle. He summoned all the animals to be present at a meeting next morning and he would secretly select the first 12 animals arriving to be the signs of a year respectively. The rat and cat, who were good friends, agreed to wake each other up. Next morning Rat, who woke up first, broke his promise and left cat sound asleep as he quietly left alone to arrive at the meeting. Buddha selected the first 12 animals as they arrived to be the signs for the years. They came in this order: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and the pig. By the time the cat arrived everyone was celebrating their good fortune and that is why there is no cat in the zodiac.

Traditions

Red packets

Traditionally, Red envelopes or red packets (红包; hóng bāo) are passed out during the Chinese New Year's celebrations, from married couples or the elderly to unmarried juniors. It is common for adults to give red packets to children. Red packets are also known as 压岁钱 (yā suì qián), which was literally the money used to suppress or put down the evil spirit during this period. The red envelopes always contain money, usually varying from a couple of 元 (yuán) to several hundred.

Fireworks

Bamboo stems filled with gunpowder that were burnt to create small explosions were once used in ancient China to drive away evil spirits. In modern times, this method has eventually evolved into the use of firecrackers during the festive season. Firecrackers are usually strung on a long fused string so it can be hung down. Each firecracker is rolled up in red papers, as red is auspicious, with gunpowders in its core. Once ignited, the firecracker lets out a loud popping noise and as they are usually strung together by the hundreds, the firecrackers are known for its deafening explosions that it is thought to scare away evil spirits. See also Myths above. The lighting of firecrackers also signifies a joyous occasion and has become an integral aspect of Chinese New Year celebrations.

Symbolism

During these 15 days of the Chinese New Year one will see superstitious or traditional cultural beliefs with meanings which can be puzzling in the eyes of those who do not celebrate this occasion. There is a customary reason that explains why everything, not just limited to decorations, are centered on the colour red. At times, gold is the accompanying colour for reasons that are already obvious. One best and common example is the red diamond-shaped posters with the character 福 (fú), or "auspiciousness" which are displayed around the house and on doors. This sign is usually seen hanging upside down, since the Chinese word 倒 (dǎo), or "upside down", sounds similar as 到 (dào), or "arrive". Therefore, it symbolizes the arrival of luck, happiness, and prosperity.

Lion dance

Lion dances are common during Chinese New Year. It is believed that the loud beats of the drum and the deafening sounds of the cymbals together with the face of the lion dancing aggressively can evict bad or evil spirits. Lion dances are also popular for opening of businesses in Hong Kong.

Decorations

Decorations generally convey a New Year greeting. They are not advertisements. Chinese calligraphy posters show Chinese idioms. Other decorations include a New year picture, Chinese knots, and papercutting and couplets.

Fish

The fish is usually seen in paintings. Decorated food depicting the fish can also be found. It symbolises surplus or having additional savings so as to have more than enough to live throughout the remaining year. It coheres with the Chinese idiom (年年有余, nián nián yŏu yú).

Greetings

The Chinese New Year is often accompanied by loud, enthusiastic greetings, often referred to as 吉祥话 (jí xiáng hùa), or loosely translated as auspicious words or phrases. Some of the most common examples may include:

  - Happy New Year! 

新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè). A more contemporary greeting reflective of western influences, it literally translates from the greeting "Happy new year" more common in the west. But in northern parts of China, traditionally people say 过年好 (guò nián hǎo) instead of  新年快乐, to differentiate it from the international new year. And 过年好 can be used from the first day to the fifth day of Chinese new year.

 - Congratulations and be prosperous! 

恭喜发财(gōng xǐ fā cái); Cantonese: Gung hei faat choi, which loosely translates to "Congratulations and be prosperous". Often mistakenly assumed to be synonymous with "Happy new year". The saying is now commonly heard in English speaking communities for greetings during Chinese New Year in parts of the world where there is a sizable Chinese-speaking community, including overseas Chinese communities that have been resident for several generations, relatively recent immigrants from China, and those who are transit migrants (particularly students).

Superstitions during the New Year period

The following is a list of beliefs that vary according to dialect groups / individuals.

Good luck

• Opening windows and/or doors is considered to bring in the good luck of the new year.
• Switching on the lights for the night is considered good luck to 'scare away' ghosts and spirits of misfortune that may compromise the luck and fortune of the new year.
• Sweets are eaten to ensure the consumer a "sweet" year.
• It is important to have the house completely clean from top to bottom before New Year's Day for good luck in the coming year. (however, as explained below, cleaning the house after New Year's Day is frowned upon)
• Some believe that what happens on the first day of the new year reflects the rest of the year to come. Asians will often gamble at the beginning of the year, hoping to get luck and prosperity.
• Wearing a new pair of slippers that is bought before the new year, because it means to step on the people who gossip about you.
• The night before the new year, bathe yourself in pomelo leaves and some say that you will be healthy for the rest of the new year.

Bad luck

• A haircut is considered bad luck. The word "hair" is a homophone for the word for "prosperity". Thus "cutting hair" could be perceived as "cutting away your prosperity" in Cantonese.
• Sweeping the floor is usually forbidden on the first day, as it will sweep away the good fortune and luck for the new year.
• Talking about death is inappropriate for the first few days of Chinese New Year, as it is considered inauspicious as well.
• Buying books is bad luck because the word for "book" is a homonym to the word "lose".
• Avoid clothes in black and white, as black is a symbol of bad luck, and white is a traditional funeral colour.