Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, is the most important festival for the Chinese people, along with many others in East Asian countries. It is a 15-day festival celebrated between January 201st and February 20th, determined by the Chinese lunar calendar.
The origin of the Chinese New Year is a legend: It all started when a beast, Nian (年, “year” in Chinese), attacked a village. The villagers found out that the beast was afraid of the color red, loud noises, and bright lights. To scare away the beast, people pasted red paper on their doors, hung lanterns, wore red clothes, and lighted firecrackers. This tradition was continued, and now red is a symbol of joy and good luck.
Before Chinese New Year’s Day, people visit their ancestors’ graves and offer sacrifices like chicken, fish, and pork. Letting the ancestors “eat first” is a sign of respect in Chinese culture. The following day is when families gather to have a family reunion dinner.
After dinner, red envelopes, with money in them, are handed out to the children and elders from the family, a symbol to keep demons away, and wishing the others good luck in the following year. (accepting the red envelope with both hands is a sign of respect!)
Another symbol of good fortune in China is the dragon. On this special holiday, dragon dances, dancers hidden in long vibrant dragon suits, jumping and dancing their way through the streets.
References
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/special-report/chinese-new-year/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chinese-New-Year
https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/how-do-people-celebrate-chinese-new-year
https://www.thoughtco.com/chinese-new-year-red-envelope-687537
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