Today is Chinese New Year and what a celebration it is. Most people around the world celebrate New Years on the 1st January, however Chinese New Year this year is celebrated on 16th Feb and generally between 1st-20th February each time, continuing over 2 weeks.
If you’re wondering how Chinese New Year is celebrated and what the year of the dog means, here is everything you need to know.
How Chinese New Year is celebrated
This is a celebration full of colorful parades and festivals, chinese families also gather together for dinner and tradition is to clear their homes of bad energy. Fireworks and firecrackers are set off at midnight to get rid of any bad luck too.
Year of the dog
Year of the dog is said to be an unlucky year for those born in this zodiac, luckily the cycle is only every 12 years. If you’re born in the year of the dog, your characteristics are said to be very loyal, honest and popular in social situations. Win Win!
Check out what zodiac animal you are here.
It’s a celebration for everyone
One of the best things about Chinese New Years is that anyone and everyone can celebrate, it’s the perfect excuse for a party. So if you and your housemates are stuck for something to do, create your own chinese party or join in on the celebrations near you.
The Spring Festival
Chinese call their New Year, the ‘Spring Festival’. Even though it’s technically still winter, ‘Start of Spring’ marks the end of the coldest part of winter, when the Chinese traditionally look forward to the beginning of spring.
Check out whether anything is happening at your uni or around the city and go along with your housemates and join in on the celebrations.
Happy New year everyone, hope year of the dog is a lucky one for all!
A Dog’s most defining characteristic is their loyalty. They will never abandon their friends, family or work.
Honest and just, they are popular in social circles. Everyone needs a Dog friend for advice and help. They are also good at helping others find and fix their bad habits.
Despite how they act, they are worried and anxious inside. However, they will not let this stop them. Once they decide on something, no one can persuade them against it.
Fireworks and firecrackers are set off at midnight to cast away any bad luck and bring forth good luck. Children also traditionally receive ‘luck money’ on New Year’s Day. This is generally gifted in red envelopes, although many teenagers now have ‘red envelope apps’, so money can be transferred digitally.
The global celebrations are an explosion of light and sound, involving bell ringing, lighting firecrackers and watching traditional lion dances.
Chinese families gather together for a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve, and clean their houses to sweep away bad fortune on New Year’s Day.
Traditionally, kids would be given red envelopes stuffed with ‘lucky money’ and positive wishes on New Year’s Day.
Some teens now have red envelope apps, so their relatives can transfer cash digitally.
Which Chinese zodiac animal am I?
The Chinese animal zodiac or shengxiao, which means ‘born resembling’, are arranged in a repeating cycle of 12 years.
The animal changes at the beginning of the Chinese New Year, and traditionally these animals were used to date the years.
However, Chinese New Year is a movable celebration, dictated by the lunar cycle, which can fall anytime between January 21 and February 20.
This year, for example, it will be celebrated on Friday, 16th February.
If you’re feeling confused, calculate your zodiac sign here.
He hatched a plan and convinced the ox to carry him on his back – on the condition that the rat sang throughout the journey.
The ox arrived first, but the rat sneaked in front of him and became the first lucky animal.
By the time the cat arrived, the selection was over – which is why the cat hates the rat and will always try to chase and kill him.