Chinese New Year Traditions

Chinese New Year is celebrated on a different calendar date from January 1 because it is based on the lunar calendar. For this reason, the holiday is observed on the first day of the first moon of the new lunar year, and the date of Chinese New Year can vary anywhere between January 21 and February 20.

Chinese New Year traditions revolve around signifying the importance of honoring ancestors, reversing misfortune and preparing for the future. The Chinese New Year party is dominated by the expansive family dinner, rather than partying on the night before. Ancient Chinese astrologers constructed their animal-based zodiac around the concept of dividing the history of the earth into 300 60-year-long cycles, which were in turn divided by the five elements to create their 12-month calendar.

The most common Chinese New Year tradition fwesterners are familiar with is the naming of a year after a specific animal. For instance, 2008 is the Year of the Rat; the last Year of the Rat was in 1996. What most people don't know, however, is that part of the Chinese New Year tradition of animals also involves assigning an animal symbol to each month and even each hour of the day. Therefore, the horoscope reading of those born under the Year of the Rat may also take into consideration that they were born in the Month of the Dragon during the Hour of the Snake. This specificity is why not everyone born during a Chinese Year of the Rat necessarily exhibits to the same degree such common Rat attributes as possessing a social conscience, curiosity and practicality.

Another tradition associated with Chinese New Year animal signs is that they also apply in a general way to everybody, regardless of the animal sign under which they were born. The Year of the Rat is traditionally considered a year for high productivity and opportunity. According to Chinese astrology, 2008 will be a good year for most people to look for a new job or get married.

Chinese New Year's Eve differs substantially from its western counterpart. Whereas those who always celebrate the New Year on Jan. 1 typically spend Dec. 31 in rather carefree ways and end it by partying the night away, the Chinese New Year's Eve tradition is focused on sweeping the old year away, literally and figuratively.

Cleaning the house is a symbolic undertaking designed to rid you of all the misfortune experienced during the old year. After the house is cleaned, all the rags, brushes and brooms used are stored away to represent completeness. The housecleaning is a metaphor for paying off outstanding debts and making peace with those you have come into conflict with. Resolving these differences extends from family to friends to business associates to even strangers with whom you might have exchanged ill words. Another tradition on Chinese New Year's Eve has been to open all the windows and doors inside the house to facilitate the exit of the old year and the entrance of the new.

The overarching theme of the traditions associated with Chinese New Year deal with a sense of renewal and a fresh start and purpose. Nothing symbolizes a change better than a new set of clothes, and it is traditional to buy Chinese New Year clothing. The new clothes are not just a sign of a fresh beginning; they are also intended as harbingers of good fortune.

The preferred color of Chinese New Year clothing is red because it is thought to scare off evil spirits and also because it is such a festive color. Red also shows up in the Chinese New Year tradition of red packets, which are envelopes filled with money. The color red symbolizes luck and wealth, and these packets are typically given from an older person to a younger person. The actual wealth received normally depends on the age; a very young child may only receive a few dollars while a teenager may actually get enough to buy something worthwhile. It is not uncommon for workers to receive a red packet for Chinese New Year from an employer.

Chinese New Year's Day is centered on the family feast, but there are some interesting superstitions associated with the celebration as well. For instance, it is considered bad luck to wash your hair on Chinese New Year's Day. Among other things that are considered bad mojo are saying the number "four" out loud since it sounds similar to the Chinese word for death; lending or borrowing money; cutting the noodles you eat; and sweeping floors (that's why brooms are put away the night before). It is also considered a bad omen to drop your chopsticks on Chinese New Year.

The traditional celebration of Chinese New Year is dominated by the explosive sound of firecrackers popping in the night. The firecracker tradition actually dates back to the founding myth of Chinese New Year, which is based on the ancient legend of a terrible beast named Nian, who would appear once a year and consume villagers. An old sage taught them that Nian was afraid of fire, the color red and loud noises and thus several Chinese New Year traditions were born.