Latest News

The mythical story of Chinese New Year

By Samuel Cheng

Published 2:09 PST, Fri January 28, 2022

Last Updated: 4:23 PST, Fri January 28, 2022

Chinese New Year is happening on Feb. 1 this year. Have you ever wondered about the origin of Chinese New Year and how it all started? It is said to have originated from a mythical tale. 

There are many different myths, but the most popular version is about the mythical beast called the Nian (the pronunciation is the same as the Chinese word for year). Nian is known to have terrorized the villages in China eating livestock, crops and people and causing destruction. People were afraid but there was nothing that they could do to protect themselves.

A wise man discovered that the Nian was scared of loud noises and the colour red, so he shared this knowledge with the villagers. When word spread that the Nian was nearby, the villagers made loud crackling noises by burning bamboo and put up red scrolls on their windows and doors. The Nian never returned and the villagers celebrated their success. 

The traditions and customs have passed on throughout the dynasties of ancient China. In the Zhou dynasty, one of the customs was to offer sacrifices and worship to the ancestors of the gods. In the Wei and Jin dynasties, the tradition of cleaning houses, having dinner with family and staying up late on Chinese New Year’s Eve became prevalent and is a tradition that continues today. 

Later on, during the Tang, Song and Qing dynasties, celebration activities included setting off firecrackers, dragon dancing and eating dumplings. 

There are some differences between the Western culture’s New Year and Chinese New Year. The Western culture’s New Year takes place on the first day of January in the Gregorian calendar. However, Chinese New Year is the first day of the lunisolar calendar, which is determined by the cycles of the moon. 

The date of Chinese New Year varies from year to year, but it usually falls between late January and early February. Similar to the Western zodiac signs, there are 12 different animal signs that correspond with years instead of months. The Chinese animal zodiac signs are in the following order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The year 2022 is the year of the Tiger, which symbolizes strength, power and bravery.

Other countries aside from China also celebrate Chinese New Year. Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam all celebrate the Lunar New Year. The term Lunar New Year is a more inclusive and culturally diverse
term that is more applicable in non-Chinese countries. Nowadays, the term Chinese New Year is used interchangeably with Lunar New Year and Spring Festival.

While there is a seven-day statutory holiday in China, other Asian countries like Korea and Singapore shorten it to three days. 

Aside from the differences, there are many similarities as well. 

For example, red lanterns and spring couplets can be found on households’ doors and windows. People also enjoy the dragon and lion dancing, setting off fireworks and crackers, as well as giving and receiving red envelopes (also known as Hong Bao). 

People may also wish each other Gong Hei Fat Choy or Gong Xi Fa Cai (the Cantonese and Mandarin ways of delivering wishes for wealth and prosperity).

See more canada news

See All

See more international news

  See All
© 2024 Richmond Sentinel News Inc. All rights reserved. Designed by Intelli Management Group Inc.