Chinese New Year: questions your children might ask

Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China celebrated at the turn of the lunar calendar, usually in late January or early February. It is a time for families to gather, exchange gifts, and participate in traditional activities such as dragon and lion dances, feasting, and decorating homes with red lanterns and couplets. The holiday symbolizes renewal, hope and good fortune for the coming year.

How is the New Year determined according to the Lunar calendar?

The Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar, which is a lunisolar calendar based on the cycles of the moon and the sun. The lunar year has 12 or 13 lunar months, with each month beginning with a new moon. The date of the Chinese New Year changes every year and typically falls between January 21 and February 20, depending on the phase of the moon. The festival usually lasts for 15 days, ending with the lantern festival.

Why does the date of Chinese New Year change?

The date of Chinese New Year changes because the lunar calendar, which is used to determine the date of the festival, is a lunisolar calendar that follows the cycles of both the moon and the sun. The lunar year is shorter than the solar year, so a leap month is added to the lunar year every 2 or 3 years to synchronize it with the solar year. This results in the date of Chinese New Year shifting each year.

What do people do during Chinese New Year?

During Chinese New Year, people engage in a variety of traditions and activities, including:

1. Family reunions: Chinese New Year is a time for families to gather and celebrate together.
2. Decorations: Homes are adorned with red lanterns, couplets, and other decorations symbolizing good luck and happiness.
3. Gift-giving: Red envelopes filled with money are given to children and unmarried adults as a symbol of good fortune.
4. Feasting: A large family dinner is held on New Year’s Eve, and a variety of traditional foods are enjoyed during the festival.
5. Fireworks: Fireworks displays are a common feature of the New Year celebrations, symbolizing the banishing of evil spirits.
6. Dragon and lion dances: Performances of these dances, which symbolize good luck and prosperity, are held in public spaces.
7. Cleaning and Preparing: Many families clean and declutter their homes before the New Year, symbolizing the sweeping away of bad luck.
8. Visiting relatives and friends: People visit their relatives and friends to extend New Year greetings and exchange gifts.

Why must you wear red during Chinese new year and why can’t you wear black?

Red is a predominant color during Chinese New Year because it is believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. The tradition of wearing red dates back to ancient times, when people hung red lanterns and painted their doors red to scare away evil spirits.

Black is considered to be an unlucky color in Chinese culture and is typically avoided during the New Year celebrations. It is associated with mourning and death, and is believed to bring bad luck. By contrast, red is associated with good fortune, happiness, and prosperity.

What are red packets during Chinese New Year?

Red packets, also known as “hongbao” in Mandarin, are a traditional part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. They are small, red envelopes filled with money that are given to children and unmarried adults as a symbol of good fortune. The act of giving and receiving red packets is seen as a way to bring good luck for the coming year.

The custom of giving red packets is thought to have originated in ancient times, when people would stuff gold and silver ingots into red envelopes as a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Today, red packets are typically filled with small amounts of money and given as gifts to friends, family members, and co-workers. The act of giving red packets is seen as a way of wishing the recipient good luck, health, and prosperity for the coming year.

Why are red envelopes only given to children and unmarried children?

Red envelopes are traditionally given to children and unmarried adults because it is believed that they are more susceptible to evil spirits and bad luck. The money inside the red envelopes is seen as a protective talisman, and the red color of the envelopes is believed to ward off evil.

By giving red envelopes to children and unmarried adults, the giver is wishing them good luck and prosperity for the coming year. This tradition also emphasizes the importance of taking care of the younger and more vulnerable members of society.

It is worth noting that this tradition may vary among different Chinese communities, and some families may choose to give red envelopes to everyone, regardless of age or marital status.

What do people do on the eve of Chinese New Year?

The eve of Chinese New Year, known as “Chuxi,” is a time for families to gather and celebrate together. Some of the traditional activities and customs that people engage in on the eve of Chinese New Year include:

1. Family dinner: A large family dinner is held on New Year’s Eve, often featuring traditional foods such as dumplings, fish, and sweet rice cakes.
2. Cleaning: Many families clean and declutter their homes before the New Year, symbolizing the sweeping away of bad luck.
3. Decorations: Homes are adorned with red lanterns, couplets, and other decorations symbolizing good luck and happiness.
4. Fireworks: Fireworks displays are a common feature of the New Year celebrations, symbolizing the banishing of evil spirits.
5. Prayers: Some families may visit temples to offer prayers for good luck and prosperity in the coming year.
6. TV specials: Special TV programs and performances are broadcast, featuring music, dance, and skits to entertain and celebrate the New Year.
7. Spending time with family: The eve of Chinese New Year is a time for families to gather and spend time together, often playing games and exchanging gifts.

What are some variations of Chinese New Year celebrations?

Chinese New Year is celebrated by a diverse range of communities across the world, and there are many regional variations of the celebrations. Some of the variations include:

1. Lo Hei (Singapore and Malaysia): Lo Hei is a festive custom in which participants gather around a large platter of raw fish and various other ingredients and toss them together while making wishes for good luck and prosperity.
2. Yee Sang (Malaysia): Similar to Lo Hei, Yee Sang is a dish consisting of raw fish and other ingredients that are tossed together in a show of unity and good luck.
3. Flower Fair (Guangdong, China): The Flower Fair is a popular event held in Guangdong, China during the New Year, featuring displays of traditional flower arrangements and other decorative items.
4. Vietnamese New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan): Vietnamese New Year, also known as Tet Nguyen Dan, is celebrated with family gatherings, offerings to ancestors, and traditional food and drink.

These are just a few examples of the many variations of the Chinese New Year celebrations. The exact customs and traditions may vary from place to place, reflecting the diversity of the Chinese diaspora.

What does giving two oranges mean at Chinese New Year?

Giving two oranges during the Chinese New Year is a symbolic gesture that represents good luck and prosperity. The custom of giving oranges during the New Year celebrations is thought to have originated in southern China, where the fruit was abundant and symbolized wealth and good fortune.

The act of giving two oranges is meant to symbolize the wish for double blessings in the coming year. The recipient of the oranges is typically someone who is considered important or special, such as a family member, friend, or co-worker.

The tradition of giving oranges is just one of many customs associated with the Chinese New Year celebrations. Other common symbols of good luck and prosperity include red lanterns, red envelopes, and decorations featuring the Chinese character for “fu,” meaning good fortune.