Chinese New Year traditions

The Chinese New Year is China’s most important festival with a history that dates to more than 3000 years. Alternatively referred to as the “Lunar New Year” and a highlight of the “Spring Festival”, the day is determined by the phases of the lunar calendar, which is the reason why it is celebrated on different dates on the Gregorian Calendar. Traditionally, Chinese New Year’s day falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice in December, which sets the day sometime between January 21 to February 20.

This year, the day falls on February 10, 2024. Historians note that the holiday’s observance dates to between 475 BC and 221 AD during a period in China’s history that’s referred to as the “Warring States” period.

During this time, several legends about the origins of the new year were told, and one of the most popular tells the story of a monster named “Nian” who terrorized people at the turn of each year.

It is said that the people eventually learned that the monster had an aversion to bright lights, loud sounds and the color red. They then used these to deter its attacks, and it is from here where various Chinese New Year traditions are believed to have stemmed from.

But contrary to popular belief, Chinese New Year traditions go beyond fireworks, celebrating the color red and spending time with family on the eve of Chinese New Year’s day.

With the day itself serving as the start of the sixteen-day Spring Festival, there are various traditions associated with the holiday – most of which are basically a list of do’s and don’ts that’re observed in China throughout the Spring Festival. Here are quick takes on what these traditional do’s and don’ts are.

CLEANING

Cleaning one’s home is considered an important activity to greet the new year in China, so-much-so that it is hinged on the belief that cleaning clears the home of bad luck which had accumulated in the past year.

The thing with this tradition is that cleaning is typically done BEFORE new year’s day – not on the day itself or within the first three days of the Chinese New Year.

It is believed that cleaning one’s home in the first three days of the new year “sweeps away” the good tidings that came in with the new year.

If one really needs to tidy up, Chinese geomancers advise sweeping rubbish inwards to the home, and to only throw out trash after the new year’s first three days.

WASHING/CUTTING HAIR

Washing or cutting one’s hair on Chinese New Year’s day is also listed as a don’t in the roster of Chinese New Year traditions.

The rationale behind this belief can be traced to how the Chinese character for “hair” is the first character for the word “prosper”.

Basically, the act of washing or cutting one’s hair on Chinese New Year’s day is seen as an act that washes or cuts one’s chances to prosper in the coming year.

BUYING BOOKS

Shū, the Chinese word for “book”, is a word which sounds similar to the Chinese word for “lose”.

As such, many Chinese believe that buying new books within the span of the sixteen-day Spring Festival is akin to inviting bad luck, and this invariably makes it a big no no.

The act of giving new books as gifts is also listed as a Chinese New Year don’t, as it bears symbolic ties to wishing bad luck to a recipient.

LANTERNS AND THE LANTERN FESTIVAL

The Chinese traditionally celebrate the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the Spring Festival – a day which marks the first full moon after new year’s day.

This day is earmarked by reunion dinners with family, with lanterns and auspicious fruits like oranges playing large roles in such gatherings.

Chinese tradition states that the festival is associated with celebrating the positive relationship between people and nature, with lanterns being symbolic of the light that’s drawn by the relationship each year. The festival also holds ties with guiding lost and/or ill spirits away from negatively influencing positive energies.

ON BUSINESSES REOPENING

In the itinerary of the sixteen-day Spring Festival, the fifth day is widely regarded as the “Birthday of the God of Wealth” and as such, it is a day when businesses and stores typically reopen after being closed for the holidays.

Among households, Chinese tradition states that going out of the house on this day for too long is unwise, since one could miss a visit from the God of Wealth when one is out of the house for too long.