10 Interesting Facts about Chinese New Year

With just 10 days until the start of the Chinese New Year, we kick off a series of articles to educate and prepare you for this holiday that over 20% of the world celebrates.   Hint:  This is NOT the holiday to eat Jewish food!  😉  Yes, it’s another reason for us to eat Chinese food!  As if you needed yet another excuse to do so!

[A majority of the information contained in this article came from China Highlights] 

Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) is a major holidays in not just China but also other countries in Asia. Here are 10 interesting facts about this important and popular holiday.  A fact a day will make you an expert.

1. The date varies!

The date for Chinese New Year changes each year. It always falls between January 21 and February 20, determined by the Chinese lunar calendar.

2. The holiday is oddly called “Spring Festival”.

Though in winter, Chinese call their New Year holidays ‘Spring Festival’ (春节 chūnjié /chwnn-jyeah/), because ‘Start of Spring’ (4–18 February) is the first of the terms in the traditional solar calendar. While wintry weather prevails, ‘Start of Spring’ marks the end of the coldest part of winter, when the Chinese traditionally could look forward to the beginning of spring.

3. Every Chinese New Year starts a new animal’s zodiac year.

Chinese zodiac years: A very old custom is to name the years by one of 12 animals in their zodiac cycle. For example, 2017 is a year of the Rooster. Many Chinese still believe in astrology and other New Year superstitions.

People focus on priorities: making amends, reconciling with people, avoiding offence, and re-establishing old ties. They buy and wear new clothes, give gifts, and clean house.

Check out this great article written by Bernadette King for The Chinese Quest on the Chinese Zodiac, here.

4. It is a festival for 1/5 of the world’s population.

It’s China’s winter vacation week, like between Christmas and New Year’s Day other countries. Schools in China get about a month off, and universities even more. China, Hong Kong and Macau, and nine other Asian countries have public holidays.

• China: 1.3 billion in China get three days of public holiday.
• Indonesia: 250 million people in Indonesia get one day of public holiday.
• Philippines: 100 million get one day of public holiday.
• Vietnam: 90 million people get at least three days of public holidays, but the holidays sometimes extends for an entire week by taking away weekends, as in China.
• South Korea: 50 million people get three days of public holiday.
• Malaysia: 30 million people get two day of public holiday.
• North Korea: 24 million people get three days of public holiday.
• Taiwan: 24 million people get four days of public holiday generally.
• Brunei: One day of public holiday.
• Singapore: Two days of public holiday.
• Hong Kong: Three days of public holidays, extending to four days if the holidays fall on a Sunday.
• Macau: Three days of public holiday, extending to four days if the holidays fall on a Sunday.

5. Billions of red envelopes are exchanged.

These red envelopes with cash are given out from older to younger, from bosses to employees, and from leaders to underlings. It is a special New Year’s bonus. Read more on how to give Chinese New Year lucky money (red envelopes)

6. It’s big in London and Hong Kong.

500 thousand people converged for Chinese New Year in London’s Chinatown, Trafalgar Square, and central London streets in 2015.

In Hong Kong, a big holiday custom is horse racing: The most popular races of all in the city happens on the third day of the Spring Festival holidays when 100,000 excited fans crowd into Sha Tin Racecourse. The spectators watch a grand opening show, a featured lion dance, and a variety of cultural performances and entertainment.

7. 4% of the world’s population are on the move.

200 million Mainland Chinese travel long distances for these holidays, and it is estimated that there are 3.5 billion journeys in China. For comparison, less than 100 million people travel more than 50 miles during the Christmas holidays in the US according to the American Automobile Association.

Tens of millions of people travel in other countries too.

8. There is the world’s biggest annual fireworks usage.

No single hour in any other country sees as many tons of fireworks lighted as in China around the midnight beginning Chinese New Year. China produces about 90% of the world’s fireworks!

Fireworks are used to scare evil spirits: Most mainland Chinese believe that the flash and bang of firecrackers and fireworks scare away demons and evil ghosts.

Read more on the  Chinese New Year Firework Performance in Hong Kong>>

9. The Lantern Festival once ended 16 days of festivities.

Traditionally, the 16 days from New Year’s Eve until the Lantern Festival each had a special celebration activity.

The Lantern Festival: In the evening of 15th day of the first lunar month, on the night of the full moon, families gather for dinner and go out and see fireworks and light lanterns. Lanterns are put up for decoration, let loose to fly, and floated in rivers.

Ice lanterns shine in Harbin: High-tech giant ones glow with beautiful colors. Thousands of traditional smaller ones are lit also.

10. “Xinnian Kuaile” means “Happy New Year”.

Xīnnián kuàilè! (新年快乐). That’s pronounced “sshin-nyen kwhy-luh”, by the way.

Just 10 days until Chinese New Year’s.  Learn one of those fact each day, and you’ll be celebrating like a Boss!

Humbly submitted for your consumption,

—Mee Magnum  (“Chop!  Chop!”)

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