What Is Chinese New Year? Same As January 1st?
January 1sts had come and gone. You waited until the ball dropped and had a drink with friends. Some of your Chinese friends probably joined you and although the holiday is recognized, you didn’t realize that one of the biggest holidays of the year was Chinese New Year.
Is Chinese New Year the same thing as the lunar new year celebration? Or is there more?
Chinese New Year 2020
This year’s Chinese New Year celebration is on January 25th, 2020. Chinese new year takes place during a week-long celebration known as the Spring Festival. Each year, one of 12 animals is selected. The animal for this year is the rat. The celebration is known as “the spring festival” because it marks the end of winter and the beginning of new life.
Red Decorations
It is common to see red banners and lanterns during late January and early February. This color represents the celebration.
A Family Celebration
This holiday is extremely important to Chinese families. Many people in China often return to their home provinces and have a meal with their families on new years eve. This makes the Chinese new year one of the most popular holidays. It is such an important event, that many singles hire a fake boyfriend or girlfriend to take home to show off to their parents.
Fireworks and Red Envelopes
Americans associate fireworks with Independence day. For the Chinese, new years day is the time when fireworks are used. The firecrackers are lit at 12am, signifying the new year and to also scare away evil spirits.
Red Envelopes and Gifts
Another popular aspect to the Chinese new year is gifting. Gifts are given to friends and family members. It is common to see younger ones receiving red envelopes. Employers also give red envelopes to their employees with cash.
Join us at Silky Kitchen during Spring Festival!