PAGE A14 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, January 18, 2023
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT CHINESE NEW YEAR Chinese New Year 2023 falls on Sunday, January 22nd, 2023, and celebrations culminate with the Lantern Festival on February 5th, 2023. Celebrations last up to 16 days, but only the first 7 days are considered a public holiday (January 22nd–January 29th, 2023). Chinese New Year is celebrated by more than 20% of the world. It’s the most important holiday in China and to Chinese people all over. Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival. It is a welcome to spring, planting and harvests, new beginnings and fresh starts. It is also called the Lunar New Year, because countries such as North and South Korea and Vietnam celebrate it as well. There’s no set date for Chinese New Year. According to the Lunar calendar, the Spring Festival is on January 1st and lasts until the 15th (the full moon). It is a day for praying. The Spring Festival was originally a ceremonial day to pray for a good planting and harvest season. …and fighting off monsters. According to one legend, there was a monster named Nian (年). It would come about every New Year’s Eve. Most people would hide in their homes. But one boy was brave enough to fight him off using firecrackers. The next day, people celebrated their survival by setting off even more firecrackers. And that practice became a crucial part of the Spring Festival. The most fireworks are set off in the world that night. Firecrackers are supposed to scare off monsters and bad luck. People stay up on Chinese New Year’s Eve and set off firecrackers at midnight. In the morning, firecrackers are used again to welcome the new year and good luck. That same night, families also burn fake paper money and printed gold bars in honor of their deceased loved ones. It is the longest Chinese holiday. The Spring Festival is technically 15 days. But celebrations start on New Year’s Eve (making it 16 days). Traditionally, you have to spend time with your family and can only go out after the 5th day. It’s a national holiday. The large majority of stores are closed too. The Spring Festival causes the largest human migration in the world. The most important part of Chinese New Year is the family reunion. Everyone should come back home for the New Year’s Eve dinner. Singles hire fake boy/girlfriends to take home. Since having children and passing down the family name is one of the most important parts in Chinese culture, some desperate singles resort to hire a fake boyfriend or girlfriend to take home. Those who can’t (or don’t want to) go home can rent themselves out. No showering, sweeping or throwing out garbage allowed! Showering isn’t allowed New Year’s Day. Sweeping and throwing out garbage isn’t allowed before the 5th. This is to make sure you don’t wash away
Getty Image
the good luck! On the other hand, there’s a day before the Spring Festival dedicated to cleaning. This day is to sweep the bad luck away and make room for the good. What else is taboo during Chinese New Year? · Hair cutting (before February 2) · Using scissors, knives and other sharp things · Arguing, swearing · Saying unlucky words (such as “death” and “sickness”) · Breaking things Children receive lucky money in red envelopes. This money is supposed to help transfer fortune from the elders to the kids. They can also be given between bosses and employees, co-workers, and friends. You eat dumplings for every meal, every day. Technically you’re supposed to. But not many people do that anymore because you can have too much of even the most delicious foods. So most people will eat dumplings during the New Year’s Eve dinner. Others will eat them for the first breakfast. This is more of a northern China thing; in the South, people would rather eat spring rolls (egg rolls) and balls of glutinous rice in soup called tangyuan (汤圆). Chinese New Year desserts have special meanings. Tangyuan means “soup balls.” But it sounds like tuanyuan (团圆), which means reunion. Nian gao (年糕) is a type of rice cake. It symbolizes success each and every year. Fa gao (发糕) is a the hybrid of sponge cakes and muffins. People dye it festive colors. The fa is the same as in fa cai (发财), which means “to get rich.” And everyone wants that! There’s wine specifically for the Spring Festival. There’s a saying that there’s no manners and/or etiquette without wine. This means that you need to have wine for every ceremony, festival or important dinner. When you’re eating with someone older than you, as is the case with New Year’s dinners, you need to follow strict toasting etiquette rules. The Chinese decorate everything red for Chinese New Year. Every family will deck their homes in this color. New clothes are also believed to bring good luck and start over fresh. Every year has a zodiac animal. There are 12 Chinese zodiacs,but the animal is for the entire year. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. Some of the animals (such as Rat, Snake, Dog and Pig) aren’t normally well-liked in Chinese culture. But as a zodiac, their positive traits are bestowed on people born that year. They play a much
Oh Clark’s
bigger role than in Western cultures. Your animal can decide your career, health and relationship success. Make sure you find out what zodiac animal you are!
Getty Image Your zodiac year is bad luck. In the 12 year cycle, it is the unluckiest for you. During this year, your weapon of defense is the color red. Just as you can decorate your home in red for protection and fortune, you can also wear red clothing. Many people will wear red underwear every day of the year. Others add on red shirts, pants, jewelry, insoles and more! The New Year greeting in Chinese literally means “Happy New Year.” But in Hong Kong and other Cantonese-speaking regions, it’s more common to say “gong hei fat choy.” In Mandarin Chinese, it’s “gong xi fa cai” (恭喜发财). It means “congratulations on the fortune.” Greetings or blessings are most about plentiful harvests, wealth and fortune, health and longevity and having children and large families. Food, money and health are things that everyone wants. Passing down the family name is of utmost importance. That’s one of the reasons why China has such a large population. Chinese New Year ends with the Lantern Festival. The first full moon of the (lunar) year is the Yuanxiao Festival (元宵节 / yuán xiāo jié) or Lantern Festival ( 灯节 / dēng jié). Though family is still important, it’s still a night of partying and freedom. In ancient times, girls weren’t allowed to venture outside by themselves. But on this night, they were able to walk around, moon-gaze and look at the beautiful lanterns. Because of this, it’s also known as Valentine’s Day in China.
Getty Image
you are always there whenever i call... you meet all my needs!
• pressure washers • rentals • grasshoppers
CLARK’S SUPPLY & SERVICE LTD. www.clarks-supply.com
water requirements: farm and sewer • cabin water • waterbowls 1650 Stadacona St. W. Moose Jaw 306-693-4334 Hwy #1 North Service Rd. Emerald Park 306-359-1964 521 South Railway St W. Warman 306-934-3880
Clark’s