By Amanda Moses
The Chinese New Year begins February 1st, and the festivities will be celebrated for 16 days.
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year, begins on the first calendar month during the new moon (which is why the dates shift every year). It is celebrated for 16 days, ending on the first full moon, which then segues into the Chinese Lantern Festival (February 15th).
The New Year festival is an age-old tradition that intertwines ancient myths and customs. It was created to help honor deities as well as ancestors. Often, the evening preceding Lunar New Year’s Day is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for an annual reunion dinner. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic parades and social gatherings have been canceled.
While get togethers are being placed on hold this year, many can still follow other traditions. It is said that cleaning is one custom in which the house is thoroughly cleansed in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck. Windows and doors are decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of “good fortune” or “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity”. Other activities include giving money in red paper envelopes.
What is this year’s Chinese Zodiac Sign?
In Chinese astrology, every year is represented by an animal. The cycle is twelve years, with a different animal for each year. In 2022, we are entering the year of the tiger! According to Chinese culture, tigers are considered brave, unpredictable and confident. They are extremely competitive with a sharp focus on their goals.
Tigers are also ambitious, enthusiastic, daring, and generous. They have a strong sense of justice are committed to aiding others for the greater good.
Zodiac Tiger Years: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, and 2034.
Lucky things for the Tiger Zodiac sign:
- Colors: blue and green
- Numbers: 1, 3, 7
- Flowers: plum blossom
- Directions of auspiciousness: North
- Directions of wealth: Northwest
Unlucky things:
- Colors: White
- Numbers: 4,9
Photo by Amanda Moses
