Why is chinese new year celebrated

As an agrarian society, the harvest was everything. People also prayed to their ancestors, as they were treated as gods see Mulan for reference. But the myths are much more interesting. Most people would hide in their homes. But one boy was brave enough to fight him off using firecrackers. The next day, people celebrated their survival by setting off even more firecrackers. And that practice became a crucial part of the Spring Festival.

As in the myth about Nian, firecrackers are supposed to scare off monsters and bad luck. In the morning, firecrackers are used again to welcome the new year and good luck.

That same night, families also burn fake paper money and printed gold bars in honor of their deceased loved ones. Similar to the Korean Chuseok holiday or the Mexican Day of the Dead traditions, they believe the offerings will bring fortune and good luck to their ancestors in the afterlife.

Due to safety reasons and concerns for air pollution, many Chinese cities have banned fireworks. More than cities have restrictions too. Beijing had banned fireworks for 13 years.

The ban was lifted in because of the angry public. The Spring Festival is technically 15 days. Traditionally, you have to spend time with your family and can only go out after the 5th day. The large majority of stores are closed too. The Chinese stock up on cooking supplies, snacks , gifts , new clothes and more. The most important part of Chinese New Year is the family reunion. But since in modern China, most elderly parents live in rural villages while their children work in the cities.

Plus, the earliest you can buy train tickets is 60 days before. These resources are perfect asynchronous learning assignments for students in grades 5 through Need a fun interactive activity? Complete our Lunar New Year-inspired puzzle. Join your next Zoom call with a newly designed Zoom background using artworks from the Freer and Sackler collections. Smithsonian Current Language Follow us:.

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube. Search this site Search. Home Lunar New Year Celebration. These activities symbolise new life and new beginnings. Homes are decorated with flowers and paper decorations stating wishes of prosperity, good luck, happiness, good fortune, wealth, and longevity for the coming year. Decorations of the incoming zodiac animal are also displayed. Red and gold are very popular colours to decorate with. Red represents power happiness, vitality and scares away beasts.

Gold represents wealth and good fortune. One very important tradition of the Chinese New Year is exchanging gifts. A traditional gift that is given is small red envelopes filled with "lucky money". These envelopes are given to children by their family and friends. The red colour is used to bring good fortune, and the money inside is used by the children to buy holiday treats.

These envelopes symbolise the giving of good fortune. Food is also very important to New Year's celebrations. Families and friends get together for large feasts. Before they eat, they place their food on alters and make offerings to the gods. The foods served at these feasts vary, but what is served is always a tradition for that family.

According to the Chinese New Year facts, each of the food items represents a symbol of luck:. Festival - a day or period of celebration, often one of religious significance Festivities - the enjoyment or merrymaking typical of a celebration Lunar - relating to a moon or its movement around a planet, especially the Moon in relation to Earth Origin - the thing from which something develops, or the place where it comes from Participate - to take part in an event or activity.

Need help? How to videos Why join? The Chinese New Year. Before the start of the festivities, Chinese people spring clean their houses to sweep away any bad luck.

Houses are decorated with paper scrolls with good luck phrases such as ' Happiness ' and ' Wealth '. For the right vibe: Chinese New Year is a happy and lively festival, so for Chinese people lots of noise is a must to heighten the festival atmosphere, and firecrackers and fireworks are the cultural way to do it.

In ancient times , it was believed that the explosive sound of firecrackers scared away evil spirits, who might otherwise bring bad luck. In modern China , people set off firecrackers and fireworks during festivals to express their happiness, and invite good luck all firecrackers are the lucky color red.

As they are the shape of old silver and gold ingots an old form of currency , Chinese believe that eating dumplings will bring prosperity in the coming year. More on symbolic Chinese New Year Foods. For luck: In Chinese culture, red is a lucky color, so giving money in a red envelope is a way of giving best wishes, as well as a financial present. It's like sending a greetings card with money inside in the West. Red envelope money is called "lucky money", though it's really the red envelope that's lucky.

According to many New Year legends, evil spirits are scared of red, so red envelopes were originally used to suppress or ward off demons while giving money. Chinese New Year, like Christmas in the West, is "the season of good will" in China, so most people receive a red envelope from someone, whether employer or family. There are lots of customs about who gives who how much in a red envelope. Chinese New Year is the most important time for family reunions.

No matter how far Chinese are from their homes, they do whatever they can to get back for a family reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, which results in the world's biggest annual migration of people over million in China. Even with the rail network at capacity, train tickets are the first to sell out.

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