Chinese New Year is the Chinese celebration that celebrates the start of the new year on the traditional Chinese Calendar also known as the Lunar New Year. This celebration is commonly referred to as the Spring Festival in contemporary China, and is recognized as Lunar New days in other parts of Asia. Chinese New Year is the most important celebration observed in China, with cultural and historic significance rooted deep in history. Today remains the most important occasion for generations of families to reunite and spend time together. The celebration is also believed to be significant to ensure good fortune for the coming year.
Similar to New Years in Time Square, where many would gather to see the apple fall, many Asian families have adopted the ritual of staying up late with a Reunion Dinner where the extended family would come together for a meal that included many lucky foods such as fish and dumplings. Some families would watch the first sunrise together to welcome the Chinese New Year’s arrival.
Other traditional activities include cleaning houses, visiting family members, decorating, giving gifts and red envelopes, setting firecrackers and fireworks, and doing some religious practices such as making offerings to ancestors. We can’t forget the famous dragon dances and lion dances which are traditional performances believed to bring forth good luck and drive away evil spirits.
The celebration marks the end of the bitter winter as we welcome the beginning of the fruitful spring! As distinguished in the Chinese Zodiac, this is the Year of the Tiger. So what does this exactly mean to us and what does the future hold for us this year?
If your birthday falls under the Tiger sign, don’t be too quick to think that this is your year to shine, unfortunately the opposite is said to be true. According to Chinese astrology, a zodiac sign’s year is generally unlucky for them. However, 2022 is the year that is recommended that one should pursue their passions and take big and bold risks that should prove to be rewarding.
Though this isn’t the ideal year for the Tiger, this year is most auspicious for those born under the Horse, Pig and Dog signs. Monkeys and Snakes are rumored to have a more challenging time this year. Regardless, don’t let this deter you if you’re born under the Tiger sign, remember, you are the captain of your ship. Only you can determine how bright your year shines!