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What is The Chinese New Year?
According to legend, the Chinese New Year festival began due to a monster named Nian (which also means “year”) that would attack villages at the beginning of each new year. To drive it away, people made loud noises, added bright lights, and wore vibrant colors such as red. Eventually, Nian was scared off, and to celebrate this victory, the traditions we see today were born—such as wearing red, setting off fireworks, and other lively festivities.
Chinese New Year is also known as a time for family reunions. Following the western calendar, the celebration typically falls between late January and late February each year. It lasts from the first day of the lunar calendar to the fifteenth, marking the full moon. The festivities start with close family members—parents, siblings and continue to the big family.
As a virtual assistant nomad, travelling, having a dependable data connection while traveling for several days overseas is crucial for managing business tasks and maintaining effective communication with clients.
When is Chinese New Year 2025?
Chinese New Year in 2025 is around the corner and will fall on January 29th according to the lunar calendar. This marks the end of the Year of the Dragon and the beginning of the Year of the Snake, with the Wood element.
In Chinese culture, the Shio holds a special place. It’s believed that the 12 animal signs and the 5 elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) have a powerful influence on one’s life, destiny, and even personality. While many trust the Shio for its insights, it’s important to remember that these are just beliefs. Don’t place all your hopes and dreams on the promises of the Shio—your fate is in your own hands.
Chinese New Year Greeting
During Chinese New Year, it’s customary to greet family and friends with warm wishes for the year ahead. It’s also common to kneel and offer more formal greetings, especially to older family members like parents and grandparents, as a sign of respect. Here are some popular Chinese New Year greetings for you to learn and share:
- 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái) – Wish you be happy and prosperous
- 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè) – Wish you happiness in the coming year
- 身体健康 (shēn tǐ jiàn kāng) – Wish you good health
- 年年有馀 (nián nián yǒu yú) – Wish you abundance and prosperity every year
- 大吉大利 (dà jí dà lì) – Wish you have great luck and great profit
- 生意兴隆 (shēng yì xīng lóng) – Wish your business flourish
- 心想事成 (xīn xiǎng shì chéng) – Wish all your wishes come true
- 阖家幸福 (hé jiā xìng fú) – Wish your whole family be filled with happiness
- 万事如意 (wàn shì rú yì) – Wish everything go well for you
These greetings reflect good wishes for prosperity, happiness, health, and success, making Chinese New Year a heartfelt time for family bonding and blessings.
Chinese New Year dishes
In Chinese culture, food plays an important role, not just as nourishment but as symbols of luck, prosperity, and harmony. During Chinese New Year, certain dishes are considered essential because of the meanings they carry. These foods are carefully prepared and enjoyed before or during the celebrations, as they represent good fortune and blessings for the year ahead. Here are some must-have traditional Chinese New Year dishes:
- A Whole Steam fish
In Chinese culture, fish is considered a symbol of prosperity. It is important to serve the fish with its head and tail intact, signifying a good start and finish to the year. Additionally, part of the fish is typically saved for the next day to symbolize continued prosperity in the future.|
- Yu Sheng
Yu Sheng is a fresh fish salad mixed with thinly sliced vegetables like radish and carrot. Typically enjoyed before the New Year, often during the Sa Cap Meh (New Year’s Eve dinner), it’s a family tradition to toss the salad together while lifting it as high as possible. This act symbolizes abundant good fortune and success in the coming year. The higher you toss, the more luck you’re believed to attract!
- A Bunch of Oranges
During Chinese New Year, kumquats, mandarin oranges, and tangerines are often sent as hampers or gifted. In Mandarin, the words for these fruits sound similar to “luck” and “wealth,” making them symbols of good fortune and happiness. Their vibrant orange color also resembles gold which represents prosperity and abundance.
- A Whole Chicken or Duck
Chicken, “鸡” (jī), is a homophone for good luck and prosperity, making it an ideal dish for chinese new year dinners. The chicken is served whole, including the head and feet, symbolizing unity, completeness, and a harmonious start and end to the year.
- Year Cake
In Mandarin, year cake is called niangao and it sounds like “higher year,” symbolizing growth, progress, and rising fortunes. Eating this sweet, sticky cake is believed to bring luck in health, wealth, and happiness.
- Dumplings
The shape of dumplings resembles ancient Chinese currency which represents wealth. It’s believed that the more dumplings you eat, the more money you’ll make in the year ahead. Fillings like pork are especially popular because pigs are seen as symbols of abundance and good fortune. Fun fact: Pigs are often associated with laziness, but it’s believed that eating pork will help ward off laziness and boost productivity in the coming year.
Chinese New year Custom and Tradition
Chinese New Year is rich with customs and traditions that have been passed down through generations. It’s not just a time to welcome a new year, but also an opportunity to honor ancestors, strengthen family bonds, and ensure good fortune for the year ahead. So, here’s a look at what you can and cannot do during Chinese New Year:
- Finish every houses chores beforehand
If you have tasks like washing clothes, sewing, taking out the garbage, or sweeping, make sure to complete them before Chinese New Year. It’s believed that sewing during this time symbolizes a “hard year,” implying you’ll have to work hard or face trouble. Washing clothes or sweeping is thought to sweep away good luck and fortune from your home. - Don’t wash your hair
Washing your hair on Chinese New Year is believed to wash away your good luck for the year ahead, so it’s better to skip this ritual on the first day. - Avoid Saying Bad Words or Crying
Saying bad words or crying during Chinese New Year is thought to invite misfortune and bad energy for the year. Instead, focus on speaking only kind words to ensure a year filled with positivity. - Everything with Even Numbers
When giving red envelopes or any gifts, always use even numbers, as they’re considered lucky. The number 8 is especially favored for symbolizing wealth and prosperity. - Everything with Even Numbers
When giving red envelopes or any gifts, always use even numbers, as they’re considered lucky. The number 8 is especially favored for symbolizing wealth and prosperity. - Avoid breaking glass or plates
Breaking glass or plates during Chinese New Year symbolizes incompleteness and is believed to bring bad fortune. - Married daughters should visit their husband’s family first
Traditionally, married daughters visit their parents on the second day of Chinese New Year, as the first day is reserved for the husband’s family. - Don’t wear black or white clothes
Black and white are associated with mourning and are considered inappropriate for Chinese New Year celebrations. - Don’t kill anything during this festive
Killing animals during the first 15 days of the Lunar New Year is thought to bring misfortune. - Be mindful of what you eat
What you eat on Chinese New Year can affect the luck of your year ahead. Eating lapis legit (layered cake) symbolizes a sweet year and attracts wealth. However, avoid eating porridge, as it is traditionally associated with poverty and starting the year with it is seen as a bad omen. Some families also choose to eat vegetables on the first day to honor Buddhist teachings and avoid killing animals. - Stay Healthy and Avoid Hospitals
Visiting the hospital or taking medicine during Chinese New Year is believed to signal illness throughout the year.
Isn’t it fascinating to see how every detail, from the history of Nian to the must-have dishes and traditions, plays a role in welcoming a year filled with hope, happiness, and prosperity? So, now that you know the story behind it all, take a moment to respect the traditions and be grateful.
