WHEN IT COME, HOW TO CELEBRATE, WHAT TO GIVE
In the new year 2020, Chinese New Year began on January 28 and will last until February 15, 2020. This entire period will pass under the sign of the Red Fire Rooster - one of the most controversial animals of the eastern zodiac.
Although the Eastern New Year is a traditional holiday for the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom, every year more and more countries and peoples celebrate it. And if almost everyone knows which animal’s year is coming, then the traditions and customs of celebrating the Chinese New Year remain a sealed secret for many.
Children in traditional outfits
When does Chinese New Year 2020 start: date and exact time
The exact start time of the Chinese New Year 2020 is January 28 at 3 hours 6 minutes Moscow time.
The New Year according to the eastern calendar does not have a fixed date and is celebrated differently every year. The exact time of Chinese New Year depends on the lunar cycle - it is celebrated on the first new moon of the first month of the year. Traditionally, in China at this time, business life freezes for two weeks - the holiday is celebrated for 15 days, each of which has its own traditions and customs.
Chinese New Year 2020 celebrations will begin on January 28 and will last until February 11.
However, the holiday weekend in China will only be 7 days, that is, they will rest from January 27 to February 2, 2020.
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January 28 is the beginning of the New Year 2020 in eastern Asian countries. This is a significant and colorful event that will be celebrated by almost 3 billion people around the world.
It is on January 28 that the Red Rooster, or, as they like to say in China itself, the Fire Rooster, will come into its power. This Sign of the eastern calendar will be the patron of the next 12 months for all humanity. The fire element is an indicator that the world will be immersed in passion, emotions and feelings. The Rooster will increase people's zeal for self-realization. This period is successful for marriage, as well as global changes in all areas of life.
Chinese New Year Traditions
The Chinese themselves and other peoples who celebrate the New Year 2020 on January 28 consider this holiday the most important in the calendar. The thing is that this holiday is associated with a large number of beliefs, traditions and rituals.
The whole family always gathers for the New Year in East Asia. No one should miss this holiday, because it would be not just bad form, but an almost unforgivable mistake. Many employers are sympathetic to the traditions of the East and allow people to take time off during the New Year period. The whole family reunites to spend 15 days of celebration together. On the last day of the holiday holidays, the Lantern Festival is celebrated. Traditionally, firecrackers are set off, fireworks are set off and lanterns are lit on this day. The house is decorated with red color, which scares away evil spirits.
As you know, the start date of the New Year celebration in the eastern calendar is not constant. Even 4000 years ago, the rule was to celebrate the second New Moon after the winter Solstice on December 21. Such a close connection with the lunar calendar gave the holiday an alternative name - Lunar New Year.
Celebration in Russia
As for the supporters of Chinese traditions in Russia, there are more and more of them every year. No one is stopping you from celebrating the traditional New Year on January 1, and then also celebrating the accession of the Fire Rooster to the throne on January 28.
According to the rules of Feng Shui, red, which is the most important color for the eastern calendar, has enormous power. Eastern peoples use this shade to attract wealth, and on New Year’s Day to ward off the evil spirit that steals people’s luck, health and good mood.
In Russia, houses are increasingly decorated in red. In 2020, this is doubly relevant due to the fact that the Fire Rooster comes into force. On January 28, many families will set off fireworks to celebrate this year's symbol. You can have a great time and relax, because January 28 falls on Saturday. Don't let your day off go to waste.
The most important thing is your mood and desire to make the world a little more beautiful. This will be another reason to pamper your children with gifts and feel the holiday atmosphere that is so lacking on ordinary days. Don’t forget that a good mood increases energy and attracts good luck into your life.
Find out your element according to the eastern calendar in order to compare its energy with the energy of the Fire Rooster. For each element, the eastern sages give their special advice for the entire 2020. Try to live this year in such a way that you remember it for a long time. Good luck to you!
Chinese New Year and its history
According to legend, it all started with the fact that a terrible monster named Chun on the first day of the New Year began to get out of his home in the depths of the sea and eat animals, grain, supplies and even children. To protect their families, on the eve of the holiday, people placed food at the threshold of their home. It was believed that the more you put in, the more likely it is that the beast will not touch it. This was the case for many years until Chun met a boy in red clothes. All the villagers were scared, but a miracle happened, the beast was scared. People realized that the monster was afraid of the color red and since then it became customary to decorate their houses with lanterns and scrolls of the same color. Later, fireworks were used to scare Chun away.
There is another legend that says that Chun (also called Nian) was defeated by an old man. According to history, an old man came to a Chinese village on New Year's Day, but no one paid attention to him because of the bustle. Only one old woman told the old man to leave quickly, as Nian would soon appear. He replied that if he was left overnight, he would drive him away once and for all. On the same day, he hung red lanterns and scrolls, and installed firecrackers at the entrance. When the beast came to the village, everything was completely different, and as soon as he saw the house of this old woman, he immediately ran away from this village and did not appear again. As it turned out, Chun is afraid of the color red and loud noise, and the old man, knowing this, decorated the old lady’s house accordingly.
What to wear for the New Year of the Rooster 2017
The best color scheme for New Year 2020 is red and gold. Don’t get carried away by the neckline and transparent fabrics - such an image is unlikely to attract the attention of the sophisticated Rooster. A woman’s look should consist of a neat cocktail dress in red, yellow, pastel golden tones, high-heeled shoes that visually lengthen and decorate a woman’s leg, and accessories to match the main color. A wonderful addition would be jewelry made of gold (or gold-like), pearls (including artificial ones).
Men can celebrate New Year's Eve in a less formal outfit. But if he came to visit arm in arm with his missus, then he should comply. A formal suit can significantly reduce the level of comfort at such a fun holiday, but welcoming 2020 in home clothes or in your everyday look will look almost immoral in the eyes of the pedantic Fire Rooster.
How to celebrate Chinese New Year 2020
As we already mentioned, the holiday lasts a little more than two weeks, namely 15 days.
Like us, we carefully prepare for this holiday, celebrate it brightly, and delight each other with small surprises.
And also this holiday, as in all other countries, is an excellent occasion for the whole family to get together to socialize and relax after a hard year of work.
Preparing for Chinese New Year
The first thing the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom begin with is cleaning their homes, after which they throw away all the trash and unnecessary things that have accumulated over the year.
They pay special attention to decorating their home—red and its shades are considered traditional. Not only is the house decorated with red, but special red clothes are also bought. After all, it is this color, according to legend, that drives away misfortune and sorrow from the house.
If we talk about decoration, then it’s worth focusing your attention on this, because the Chinese have a special ritual. Paired inscriptions are always posted at the entrance to the house, and the walls of apartments and houses are decorated with special paintings made from paper patterns. Of course, there is no Christmas tree at all on this holiday, but it is replaced by trays of oranges and tangerines. But they need to be laid in a special way - always in a circle and there should be exactly 8 pieces of each fruit, no less and no more. According to Chinese superstitions, this figure means longevity. However, more and more often you can find those who, instead of citrus fruits, decorate small artificial trees, which are decorated with dried fruits or fresh fruits in sugar.
On the last night before the holiday, the whole family usually gathers at the table. They prepare various delicious dishes and discuss the past year - what they have achieved, what they have learned and what still remains to be accomplished.
Recently, the Chinese have developed a rather strange and funny tradition. Let's start with the fact that in China people who have not started a family after a certain age are not respected. For women this age is 30 years old, for men 32. And therefore, in order to earn respect from their relatives in this country, more and more on New Year’s Eve the Chinese are using such a service as a boyfriend for hire. To do this, they turn to a special agency, where they can find a person who will play their lover in front of their relatives.
Traditions of celebrating Chinese New Year
1 day
The first day of the Chinese New Year begins with a festive dinner, loud fireworks and noisy festivities. The whole family must burn bamboo sticks, moreover, it is considered. that the louder the holiday, the happier and more joyful the year will pass. After all, the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire believe that noise, laughter and joy drive away all negativity, misfortune and grief from home. There are always a lot of dishes prepared on the table, especially meat dishes - pork, dried meat, Chinese sausage, and fish. After dinner, everyone usually goes to visit. Also on this day, it is necessary to go to the cemetery to visit your relatives in order to honor their memory.
Day 2
The second day of the Chinese New Year begins with prayer - families ask for health and happiness to all their loved ones, old people for longevity, business people and businessmen for prosperity and enrichment. After which everyone must visit their parents and grandmothers. Children are given gifts, but these are not the kind of presents we are used to seeing them; in China it is customary to present red envelopes with money. For beggars, the second day of the holiday is a great success, because they can come to visit and ask for food and alms. Usually the Chinese try to help as much as they can.
3-4 days
This period can be called the holiday of friends, because during these two days all Chinese try to respect all their comrades and relatives and come to visit to congratulate. They believe that this day must be spent with loved ones in order to be together next year. Since this period, all large corporations have started their work and everything is gradually returning to normal.
5-6 days
These days are dedicated to wealth and business, and therefore other companies begin to work, but they go to work for a reason, but they definitely set off fireworks. And the morning of every Chinese begins with a special dish called jiaozi, which looks more like dumplings.
Day 7
Just like the second day of the holiday, it is customary to start the 7th day with prayer and veneration of God. It is believed that man was created on this day. In order for income to increase and business to flourish, the Chinese prepare a special raw fish salad called “Yusheng”.
8-10 days
All Chinese are already returning to work, and in the evenings they have small family festive dinners, always with prayer, after which they go to the temple to light special smoking candles. For dinner, every housewife prepares yuanxiao, which are more like small koloboks.
Day 11
In China, this is the day of the son-in-law, when the father-in-law always arranges a noisy and rich holiday for his daughter’s husband. Every father tries to respect him and arrange the best holiday for him.
12-14 days
Basically, during this period there are no holidays, because everyone is busy preparing for the main holiday - the Lantern Festival. Everyone buys decorations, lanterns, lantern canopies, and so on. For all three days, the Chinese eat only healthy foods and do not eat meat in order to cleanse their bodies of toxins. Also, during these hectic days, they try to find a moment to pray for prosperity, well-being and wealth.
15 - day
The city usually hosts concerts and theatrical performances on this day, people with lit lanterns walk around the square with their families, and fireworks, firecrackers and firecrackers roar around. The table usually contains jiaozi and sticky sweet rice; these dishes can also be bought in the square. In Singapore and Malaysia there is an interesting and romantic tradition on this holiday. To do this, single ladies attach their phone number to Mandarin and then send the fruit along the river. Single men, in turn, catch these tangerines, eat them, and then call to meet the lady.
