Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival in Chinese culture. It marks the beginning of the lunar new year and usually falls between January 21 and February 20. The date is determined by the lunar calendar.
1. Symbolic Animal: Each Chinese New Year is associated with one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. These are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal is believed to have certain characteristics that influence the personality traits of individuals born in that year.
2. Spring Festival Customs and Traditions:
* Family Reunion: It is a time for families to come together and celebrate. People often travel long distances to be with their families. * Cleaning and Decorations: Houses are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away bad luck, and red decorations are put up. Red is considered a lucky color and is believed to ward off evil spirits. * New Year's Eve Dinner: Families gather for a festive dinner, often featuring symbolic foods that represent good luck and prosperity. * Fireworks and Firecrackers: Traditionally used to scare away evil spirits, fireworks and firecrackers are a common sight during Chinese New Year celebrations.
3. Red Envelopes (Hongbao): Adults typically give red envelopes containing money to children and unmarried individuals as a symbol of good luck and blessings for the upcoming year. 4. Dragon and Lion Dances: Colorful dragon and lion dances are performed in streets and public spaces. These performances are believed to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits. 5. Traditional Clothing: Many people wear traditional Chinese clothing, such as the qipao for women and the changshan for men, during the New Year celebrations.
6. Festival Duration: The festival lasts for 15 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated with lantern displays and parades.
7. Travel Rush (Chunyun): Chinese New Year is associated with the largest annual human migration in the world as millions of people travel to be with their families.
The specific customs and traditions can vary across different regions and communities, but the overall theme is one of joy, family, and the anticipation of a prosperous year ahead.
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