Spring Festival: China celebrates New Year 4720

Tuesday, February 1st is Chinese New Year. Its date is determined by the lunar calendar: the holiday falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice on December 21.

This time, the Blue (Black) Water Tiger will come into its own on Tuesday, February 1 at 00:03 Moscow time and will rule the world until January 23, 2023.

We add that the Chinese have a different calculation of years. This year they celebrate their 4720th year. Official holidays and weekends in the country will last from January 31 to February 6. However, traditionally the cycle of the New Year holidays ends with the Lantern Festival, which occurs on the 15th day.

Note that the Year of the Tiger symbolizes turning points, which at the same time require deliberate and careful actions. It is important to strike a balance in decision making. It is noteworthy that starting from Friday, February 4, there will be a reversal of Mercury – the planet that is responsible for communications, communication, shopping and travel, and for the human nervous system. During this period, it is worth taking stock, and after February 6, join the process and start important things.

There is an ancient legend associated with the celebration of the Chinese New Year. According to legend, once the country was tortured by the horned monster “Nyan”, which means “year” in translation. The monster lived at the bottom of the sea and on New Year’s Eve went out to people, destroyed all food supplies, devoured livestock and people: adults and children. People on this day went to the mountains and left food in front of the threshold. One day, a wanderer man appeared in the village, who was sheltered by an old woman, a local resident. The beggar promised her that the monster would never attack the village again if she let him stay in her house during the night. The old man decorated the village with red lanterns and candles, and when the monster entered the village, fireworks were set off. Red light, fire and loud noises of fireworks scared the monster away.

So the noise and the color red became a fundamental tradition in the celebration of the New Year in China.

As in many countries of the world, New Year’s Eve in China is usually celebrated in the family circle. The Chinese decorate their houses and streets in red, the main color of the holiday. It is believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. Red lanterns appear on the streets, on both sides, to the right and left of the door, paired inscriptions on red paper are hung with wishes for good and happiness.

In China, the symbol of the New Year is the tangerine tree – an analogue of the New Year tree.

The celebration of the New Year is not complete without observing certain traditions. So, for example, during the holiday you can’t give watches and apples; on the eve of the holiday, take medicine; on the first three days of the Chinese New Year, it is forbidden to do cleaning, take out the trash and wash your hair; you can’t do needlework, get a haircut, buy new shoes, combine black and white in clothes. Also, you can’t lose heart, swear, lend and borrow money, talk about troubles and illnesses, and you can’t use forks and knives at the table on New Year’s holiday.

But it is allowed to make noise, have fun, dance, launch fireworks, light sparklers, exchange gifts, open a window or door at midnight so that the old year can leave and the new one can enter. Also on the eve of the holiday, general cleaning is welcome, but then it is worth hiding all cleaning products and mops in a place where no one will see them.

Meanwhile, writes Associated Press, this time the inhabitants of Asian countries will meet the New Year modestly due to the spread of the strain of COVID-19 “omicron”.

This year, New Year’s celebrations coincide with the Beijing Winter Olympics, which kick off towards the end of the holidays. Authorities have tightened controls to prevent the spread of the virus ahead of and during a sporting event. The games themselves are held in the so-called bubbles – specially equipped indoor areas, which athletes and delegations are not allowed to leave. The general public will not be able to enter the sports stands, tickets will not be sold.

Elsewhere in Asia, the New Year is expected to be less subdued than in China. In Vietnam, people flocked to markets over the weekend to purchase flowers and home decorations for the celebrations. However, there will be no large-scale events this year in this country either.

Fireworks have also been canceled in Thailand. In Bangkok, traditional lanterns will only be lit on the streets.

In Singapore, people can host up to five people a day, probably thanks to this easing of restrictions, many Singaporeans will celebrate the New Year surrounded by family and friends.