New Year is the longest and most important holiday in the Chinese (lunar) calendar. Festivals, festivities, timed to this holiday, last 15 days. It falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, so Chinese New Year 2022 can be said to be Tuesday 1st February (02/01/2022).
Chinese New Year is a public holiday in several countries in East Asia. The Chinese lunar year begins at sunset on the second new moon after the winter solstice (December 21). This means that the New Year can start at any time from January 21st to February 21st.
| Year | date | Day | Holiday |
| 2022 | 1 Feb | W | Chinese New Year |
| 2023 | 21 Jan | Sat | Chinese New Year |
| 2024 | 10 Feb | Sat | Chinese New Year |
| 2025 | 29 Jan | Wed | Chinese New Year |
Each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. 2022 will be the year of the tiger. The tiger is a symbol of power, emotion, masculinity and perseverance in China.
The exact time of the Chinese New Year
The second new moon after the winter solstice will occur on February 1, 2022 at 00:03 Moscow time or 05:03 Beijing time. This time will be considered the beginning of the New Year according to the Eastern calendar. By the way, in China they will not celebrate 2022, as we will very soon do, but 4720.
Chinese New Year traditions
Chinese New Year has a long history. In other countries that celebrate the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar, by this time of the year most of these promises have already been forgotten or carried over to the next year. However, not all hope is lost, as there is a second chance to get it right with the celebration of the Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is very similar to the Western one and is also shrouded in traditions and rituals.
The origin of the Chinese New Year itself is ancient and overshadowed by the amount of time. It is commonly known as the Spring Festival and the celebrations last for 15 days. Official weekends last about a week, and shops and malls usually open on the fifth day of the first lunar month.
Something red is usually worn, as this color is meant to ward off evil spirits, but black and white are absent as they are associated with mourning. After dinner, the family can spend the night playing cards, board games, or watching TV for the event. At midnight, the sky lights up with fireworks.
During the spring festival season, a 40-day period known as Chunyun, which begins 15 days before the Chinese New Year, many Chinese people return from cities to their hometowns to be with their families. This leads to the world's largest annual human migration.
Check out the table of exactly how most Chinese celebrate this holiday in stages:
| Dates | Events | Transport situation | Shops, offices |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 27 - February 10, 2021 | Millions of people are returning home. Cleaning, shopping | Crowded to overflowing | The companies summarize the results of the year, complete the work |
| February 11, 2021 (Chinese New Years Eve) | Decorating doors with paired inscriptions on red paper wishing goodness and happiness (“paired verses”), hanging red lanterns, New Year's family reunion dinner, launching fireworks, red hongbao envelopes, late viewing of the New Year's gala on CCTV | Already better, however, transport within cities can be loaded | Most shops close in the afternoon |
| February 12, 2021 (1 day of Chinese New Year) | At midnight, a deafening roar of fireworks and firecrackers is heard throughout China, launched by millions of Chinese families.They continue to be blown up in the morning and late in the evening before dinner. Children are presented with red envelopes with hongbao money, families are relaxing at home or walking in nature | Free | Banks and government offices are closed. Only large shopping centers are open |
| February 13, 2021 (Chinese New Year Day 2) | Visiting friends and relatives, detonating firecrackers to greet guests, and also before dinner | Free | Almost all banks and government offices are closed. Only large shopping centers are open |
| February 14, 2021 (3rd day of Chinese New Year) | Visiting friends and family living in a nearby town or village | Buses inside cities and villages are loaded, but you can move freely to other cities, including domestic flights | Some banks and government agencies are open, but private companies operate on a shorter schedule. Only some major shopping malls are open |
| February 15-16, 2021 (4-5 days of Chinese New Year) | The official non-working weekend has come to an end. Someone continues to visit friends and family, while others return to work. | Very busy | Most banks and government agencies are open, but private companies operate on a shorter schedule. Many shops are open |
| February 17, 2021 (6th day of Chinese New Year) | For most, this is the first working day after the holidays. | Very busy | Some shops, companies and offices start working on this day, as the number 6 is considered lucky in Chinese culture. |
| February 18-26, 2021 (7-15 days of Chinese New Year) | Return from travel. Lantern Festival - on the 15th day of 1 month according to the lunar calendar (in 2020 - February 8) | Crowded to overflowing | Some companies and stores open on the 8th day (February 12), as 8 is also a lucky number. Those who do not believe in omens start working on day 7 (February 11) |
Dishes that bring good luck in the New Year
All 16 days until the Lantern Festival in Chinese families, a festive table is laid, and a variety of traditional delicacies are always abundant.
The New Year's Eve dinner is especially important. The choice of dishes is symbolic: appearance, ingredients, name - everything has a special meaning and a long history.
Fish is a must for the Spring Festival. In Chinese, the word "fish" is consonant with the word "excess". The Chinese believe that eating fish dishes will bring profit and good luck in the coming year.
How to properly launch fireworks and firecrackers - Chinese traditions
With the onset of the New Year, deafening cannon fires and firecrackers begin to sound throughout China. Accompanied by smoke and hundreds of car alarms, the noise and rumbling lasts for several hours without interruption.
Launching Fireworks in China is not just entertainment, but an ancient tradition. Rumbling and crackling are designed to scare away evil spirits who are just waiting to settle in the new year in every home. And also, blowing up firecrackers, they say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one.
The traditional order of launching fireworks: first a row of small firecrackers explode, then three large ones - this is how they see off the old year and rejoice at the arrival of the new one. It is believed that the louder these three firecrackers explode, the better and happier the coming year for agriculture and business will be.
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