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Celebrating Chinese New Year

Diane Leow

Thu Feb 07 2013

Celebrating Chinese New Year

CHINESE New Year. We associate it with the colour red, lion dances and lots of good food. But there’s more to it than just lively revelry and feasting.

Shoppers throng a street market in Chinatown in Singapore, in the lead-up to Chinese New Year. Photo: Calvin Teo via Wikimedia Commons

Ethnic Chinese celebrate the New Year based on the lunar calendar. Chinese families believe that dining together on the eve of the Lunar New Year signifies familial ties will remain strong, despite any challenges that may occur throughout the year.

Dishes with auspicious-sounding names are served at these dinners. Fish is a popular dish, as the pronunciation of its Chinese name “yu”(鱼)is similar to the Chinese character for abundance (余). And speaking of abundance, food is, as you can imagine, aplenty, as family members commune over a feast of  scrumptious meat and seafood dishes.

Legend has it that there was a monster called Nian that terrorised a village. Nian would arrive ceremoniously on the first day of the new year to devour everything in its sight – livestock, crops, and even little children. Villagers would put food on their doorsteps to protect themselves. Nian’s kryptonite however, was the colour red and loud noises. Hence, villagers would dress up in red and light firecrackers to usher in the new year without fear of a monster hot at their tails. And so, a legacy was born.

Today, Chinese families everywhere still celebrate the new year with plenty of red and plenty of noise.

The first day of the new year is usually spent visiting relatives, catching up with those you haven’t seen in awhile, and blessing each other with auspicious phrases. Married couples give out red packets, filled with cash, to singles – a highlight for most no doubt.

Some Chinese families also take the Chinese Zodiac very seriously. The Chinese Zodiac runs in a cycle of 12 years, with an animal associated with each year. With it comes another legend…

A long time ago, the Jade Emperor decided to invent a way of measuring time. He gathered the animals of the land and gave them a task – the first 12 animals to swim across a river would each have a year named after them.

The Chinese Zodiac. Photo: Jakub Hałun via Wikimedia Commons

Naturally, the animals got really excited and started scheming. The first 12 animals to successfully cross the river were in this order: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

The Chinese believe that people born in a particular year will take on the characteristics of the corresponding animal. For instance, people born in the year of the Horse are said to be headstrong but loyal. Those born in the year of the rat are apparently shrewd and quick.

This coming Chinese New Year is the Year of the Snake! Those born in this year are said to be intuitive, introspective, calm and graceful.

Wondering which zodiac animal you are? We’ve found a nifty little Chinese zodiac sign calculator if you’re curious to find out.

In Melbourne for the summer? Here are some events and activities taking place in and around the city to get you in the festive spirit of Chinese New Year! 

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