It’s around that time of year again – Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year). Following the lunar calendar that is based on the cycles of lunar phases the date in which the holiday falls on changes each Gregorian calendar year. This year Chinese New Year is on Friday 16th February and will be the commencement of the year of the dog!
Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday and celebrated across several Asian countries and by Asians all over the world. The momentous festival centres around the importance of familial values and the transition from the old year to the upcoming year ahead. The celebration begins the evening preceding the first day and continue over a course of fifteen days. Across this period, we celebrate with friends and family to welcome the new year and with it the hopes and fortunes to follow.
Over time and locations, the ways in which people celebrate the new year have changed and developed. Moreover, there are way too many variations from family to family alone that it’s impossible to list them all – but here are a few ways in which we celebrate!
Preparation
Families are required to thoroughly clean out the house before the evening of new year –a type of spring cleaning if you will. This includes changing bed sheets, sweeping the floors and wiping down surfaces. The ideology behind this is to rid the household of all ill-fortune and make way for the incoming good-fortune, luck and happiness that will enter their lives after new year.
Traditionally there is also the notion of wearing new clothes for the new year. Individuals tend to purchase new clothing in advance to be worn the day commencing the celebration – this usually involves the purchasing of an entirely new outfit although in its evolution there have been adjustments made to singular items of clothing. A set of fresh clothes indicates the new start and is supposed to help set the course for a good year for the individual. There is a preference for the clothing to be in the colour red during the festival where it symbolises fortune and luck.
Reunion Dinner
The evening before new year’s is known as the ‘reunion dinner’. This is probably the most significant part of the festivities where families come together from all around the country to dispel the omens of the last year and prepare for the successes of the year ahead. In true Asian style, food is at the heart of the festival – there’s an abundance of food including the likes of hot pot, meat dishes of fish, chicken and pork as well as a range of vegetables. This list greatly reduces the sheer volume of the food served during this dinner where each individual dish represents ideals for the new year including longevity, prosperity and good luck.
This video, although dramatised, helps explain how important the reunion dinner is and how it is considered as a day of forgiving the past to welcome the future. Indeed, countless companies in Asia and the West have since advertised around the reunion dinner feature of the new year.
Red Envelopes (Lai-See)
Little red envelopes or red packets known as ‘lai-see’ are traditionally given to unmarried juniors and children by married couples and elderly. They are almost always filled with money and this is used to symbolise good luck and ward away evil spirits. The exact amount of money in each packet varies depending on preference although there is a sometimes a focus on ‘lucky’ numbers such as 8, 6 and 9 and a definite avoidant of the number 4. It is often forgotten that while it’s great to receive money during this period it’s the true meaning behind the action that is so significant.
Are you interested in what it’s like to celebrate Chinese New Year? Why not check out the Chinese New Year celebration that is taking place all across the West End on Sunday 18th February!? With free entry to the event, everyone is invited to experience the rich festivities of the new year through lion and dragon dances, food, parades, food, traditional music and dance, food… You can find more information about the events happening here!
Hopefully this article has provided a little more insight into what exactly Chinese New Year is and just some ways in how we celebrate this occasion! Whether you celebrate traditionally or have your own interpretations of the festival; on behalf of myself and the entire Her Campus KCL team, we wish you a very happy Lunar New Year enriched with the greatest luck, prosperity, happiness, success and most importantly, health! 新年快樂!