Chinese New Year 2022
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is the most important festival in China. It is also celebrated in other East Asian countries. In Vietnam, it is called Tet. In North and South Korea, it is known as Seollal. In Tibet, it is called Losar. In Mongolia, it is called Tsagaan Sar. No matter what it is called, it is a major celebration in these cultures.
Lunar New Year celebrates the start of a new year according to the lunisolar Chinese calendar. It is believed that this calendar has been in use as early as the 14th century B.C., during the Shang Dynasty. The calendar was adjusted according to the emperor in power, the geographical region, lunar phases, and solar solstices and equinoxes. Lunar New Year typically begins with the new moon that appears towards the end of January and continues until the full moon arrives.
The celebration continues for two weeks from Lunar New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival, which takes place on the 15th day of the lunar year. People take a break from business and focus on celebrating with their family. To prepare for the holiday, people clean their houses to get rid of “huiqi” (inauspicious breaths) to begin the new year with a fresh start. Food and paper icons are offered as sacrifices to ancestors.
One of the twelve zodiac animals represents each year, and those partaking in festivities this year will be ushering in the Year of the Tiger and reflecting on the Year of the Ox. Tigers are the third Chinese Zodiac and are associated with strength and bravery.
To everyone who is celebrating the Lunar New Year, 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè)!
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