Chinese New Year 2025

 

 Chinese New Year!!

 

 

Chinese New Year falls on the 29^th of January this year, each year it occurs on a different date based on when the moon falls between the end of January and the end of February. It doesn’t just last one day though, it’s a fifteen-day celebration involving many traditions which I’ll come back to later on..

 

The 12 Zodiac Animals..

 

Each Chinese New Year is represented by one of the 12 Zodiac Animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

Each of these different animals have different meanings and personalities with traits such as strong, observant, quiet and unpredictable. This year, the animal is changing from the Dragon to the Snake! The Snake symbolises love, happiness, wisdom, wealth and good luck. Each animal also has lucky colours, the Snake’s are Black, Red & Yellow.

Everyone’s birth year also comes under one of the Animals, and it’s said you have certain characteristics based on which animal covers your birth year. I’m a rooster, what are you?

 

Chinese New Year Traditions..

 

Chinese New Year has many traditions, lets talk about some of the best! Its very important to decorate as its believed that the decorations keep evil away and pray for health, blessing, longevity and peace. Some of the most popular decorations include red lanterns, red spring couplets, paper cuttings and New Year’s paintings, these are commonly put up on Chinese New Years Eve.

Another common tradition is to give Red Envelopes (Lucky Money) to children. This tends to happen after the reunion dinner, and wishes the children health, growth and good studies over the next year. They are also believed to bring good luck because they are red, which is Chinas lucky colour, hence why it’s called Lucky Money.

Setting off firecrackers and fireworks is definitely a popular tradition! The moment that the New Year arrives, fireworks and firecrackers are set off, even in the quieter area of China. Majority of families also make sure that they stay up in order to see the fireworks in the sky to start the New Year. It is also believed that the louder the firecrackers, the luckier and better it will be for farming and business in the coming year.

On the 15^th day of the New Year, the Lantern Festival will mark the first full moon of the year. During the festival, a variety of performances will take place in different parts of China, the two most popular and well known performances are The Dragon Dance and The Lion Dance. These two dances intend to bring happiness and good fortune to people, and the idea behind the festival is togetherness, unity, and prayer for a happy new year. For the Dragon Dance, a costume is made of a Dragon head and a long tail-like body. This is lifted on poles and the length can vary from 2-100 metres, sometimes over 1000! It is believed that the longer the Dragon, the more luck it will bring for the New Year.

   

Festive Foods and their Symbolism..

 

Some of the most commonly eaten New Year foods include: Fish, Dumplings, Spring Rolls, Tangyuan, Good fortune fruit, Niangao, Longevity noodles. Each of these foods symbolise different things, and people eat them in hope that those things will happen to them in the New Year. For example, Chinese Dumplings and Spring Rolls both symbolise ‘wealth’, and this has been believed for more than 1,800 years! Tangyuan (sweet rice balls) symbolise ‘Family Togetherness’, and Fish is believed to bring ‘an increase in Prosperity’. A few common snacks that are eaten around the Chinese New Year are Fried Crab Sticks, Pineapple Tarts, Fortune Cookies and Sesame Balls.

Here is a recipe for you to create your own Longevity Noodles, maybe add them as a special on your menus during the Chinese New Year!

   

Here's a bit of extra knowledge to take in..

1.  Chinese New Year is celebrated by ¼ of the world’s population, being over 2 billion, and still increasing.

2.  On New Years Day, its believed that no one should eat porridge, wash their hair, do any needle work, say unlucky words, wash any clothes, or do any sweeping! All for different reasons, for example eating porridge brings poverty, and washing your hair and clothes will wash away good luck!

3.  The world biggest fireworks usage happens during Chinese New Year, who else thought it would have been on firework night?

4.  Some single people in China will hire a girlfriend/boyfriend for the New Year celebrations, to show to their families they have a partner, and then they will stop hiring and paying for them when the celebrations are over!

 

Imogen Tincknell- Marketing Apprentice