Chinese New Year, also known as “Lunar New Year” or “Spring Festival”is the most important festival in Chinese culture. Its date is not fixed on a specific day, but varies every year in the Gregorian calendar as it is based on the Lunar calendar and is determined by the second new moon after the winter solstice.
In this year 2024, Chinese New Year begins tomorrow. February 10th. In the evening, Chinese families gather for the “Reunion Dinner,” a special event where they sample traditional dishes such as the famous “Jiaozi,” which symbolizes the prosperity and wealth of the coming year. Unlike our New Year celebration, the Chinese New Year celebration is not limited to a single day, but extends over a longer period of time for 15 daysand ends with the Lantern Festival.
Another difference that is also important to mention with regard to the Gregorian calendar and without which we cannot really understand the Chinese calendar is that, strictly speaking, the Chinese are not entering the year 2024… but at 4722. And unlike us, who mark the year 0 with the birth of Christ, the Chinese do so with the birth of Christ Coronation of Emperor Huangdi. And that’s what happened 2,698 years ago the birth of Christ.
The Chinese New Year tradition has its roots in the legend of Nian monsters. According to legend, this monster attacked people at the beginning of every year. To protect themselves, residents turned on the lights and made a lot of noise. This is how this festival came about, which symbolizes hope and renewal in the world Chinese culture. For this reason, it is also common for people to clean and decorate their homes on these days to ward off and welcome negative energy good luck.
But this celebration is not just limited to China. It is estimated that approx 50 million Chinese They live and work abroad, a number slightly higher than the total population of Spain. This means that Chinese New Year is no longer just a Chinese festival, but is celebrated all over the world. Chinese communities around the world come together to take part in parades, cultural exhibitions and special events, making this holiday a truly festive one. Internationalwhere every Chinese culture lover is invited to participate.
The Year of the “Wooden Dragon”
An interesting feature of this celebration is that it is characterized by the Zodiac Chinese that assigns an animal to each year. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, the fifth in the zodiac sequence, which includes the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, etc Pig. It is assumed that the animal assigned to a person based on the year of their birth reflects certain characteristics of them personalitywhich adds a personal touch to Chinese New Year.
The Years of the Dragon repeat themselves every 12 years. Previously, the years 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 and 2012 were also dragon years. According to Chinese folk wisdom, these are people who were born in these years natural leadersare characterized by their intelligence, generosity and their ability to convey energy and security. They are also known for being honest and making decisions in difficult situations. However, they can be a bit reserved when they express their feelings.
Finally, each year is associated with one of the five elements: fire, water, earth, metal and wood. The element associated with 2024 is this Wood, which symbolizes happiness, the ability to reinvent and transform, wisdom and power. Symbolically, the Year of the Forest Dragon predicts a Growing time, expansion and prosperity, making this the perfect time for new beginnings, projects and relationships. So, for everyone celebrating Chinese New Year: Happy Year of the Dragon!