The Chinese language New Yr or the Lunar New Yr is a significant celebration in lots of Asian international locations and their diasporas across the globe.
Chinese language New Yr, additionally known as the Spring Competition, is roughly a two-week-long celebration marking the primary day of the Chinese language calendar yr, which lands on Wednesday this yr.
Every Chinese language New Yr revolves round a 12-year cycle and is related to an animal within the Chinese language zodiac, which is then paired with any one of many 5 components: metallic, wooden, water, fireplace and earth.
This new yr marks the yr of the wooden snake.
Whereas its origins are in China, and Chinese language communities in international locations reminiscent of Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore rejoice beneath the identical identify and with related traditions, others, reminiscent of in Vietnam and the Korean Peninsula, have a wholly totally different identify for his or her Lunar New Yr festivals.
How is the Chinese language New Yr celebrated?
The times main as much as the brand new yr are spent totally cleansing households to cleanse the house of any unhealthy luck from the earlier yr.
This cleansing is believed to welcome good luck for the yr forward. Decorations additionally go up, together with lanterns, paper cuttings and contemporary paint – all in a brilliant purple color, which invitations good luck as properly.
Celebrations begin with a household reunion dinner on the eve of the brand new yr.
As the primary day of the brand new yr rolls in, properties refill with household and pals who come bearing presents, oranges and purple envelopes with small quantities of cash, referred to as ang pao or hongbao, for the little ones.
Greetings and properly needs are exchanged, together with the extra widespread Chinese language-language phrases Gong Xi Fa Cai, and Xin Nian Kuai Le, which roughly translate to happiness, peace and prosperity for the upcoming days.
Beliefs differ with some refraining from sweeping their properties or chopping their hair and nails within the first few days for worry of dropping good luck that has accrued by way of the visits of New Yr well-wishers, in line with Yvonne Goh, a Malaysian of Chinese language descent.
Conventional lion dances are a central a part of the celebrations as they invite good luck and thrust back evil spirits from properties, companies and workplaces.
Historically, married girls had been anticipated to spend the primary day of the Chinese language New Yr with their in-laws whereas the second day was reserved for daughters to go to their mother and father.
The third day is anticipated to be quieter and resting is prioritised, whereas the fourth and fifth days are devoted to the God of Wealth. The sixth day of celebrations is alleged to see individuals do away with previous or undesirable belongings and resume work.
On the seventh day, China’s mom goddess Nuwa is believed to have created people.
Koreans rejoice ‘Seollal’, Vietnamese mark ‘Tet’
The Korean New Yr (Seollal) and the Vietnamese New Yr (Tet) are additionally celebrated, in their very own distinctive methods.
The Korean New Yr is widely known over a interval of three days, the place celebrations are historically centred round household gatherings, Korean conventional meals and rituals. For South and North Koreans alike, this would be the yr of the inexperienced snake, believed to carry transformation, development and growth.
A few of the extra essential facets of the Korean festivities embrace the sebae, a deep bow of respect carried out by youthful generations to their elders as a means of wishing them a cheerful new yr.
Sometimes the sebae is carried out whereas sporting conventional clothes referred to as the hanbok. In return, elders current youthful individuals with tokens of money in envelopes referred to as sebaetdon.
Worshipping ancestors, referred to as charye, can also be an necessary a part of the brand new yr. Meals is laid out on a desk as choices to the ancestors, and deep bows are carried out as an indication of respect.
A rice cake soup referred to as tteokguk can also be served alongside different dishes reminiscent of Korean dumplings. Nevertheless, the tteokguk takes a particular place on the eating desk as it’s served as soon as yearly as a consequence of beliefs that consuming it could make an individual one yr older.
The Vietnamese New Yr celebration of Tet, brief for Tet Nguyen Dan which suggests “competition of the primary day”, is widely known over three days versus the normal 15 of the Chinese language New Yr.
Tet is likely one of the most necessary holidays in Vietnam, the place workplaces and companies shut down for seven to 9 days across the vacation.
The Vietnamese additionally prioritise spending time with household, paying respect to ancestors, praying to Gods in addition to resting earlier than the beginning of a brand new yr.
Earlier than Tet, Vietnamese individuals observe Ong Cong, the day of the Kitchen God, a deity believed to manipulate the household’s affairs. On at the present time, household altars to ancestors are cleaned, new choices are put out, and incense is burned.
Wrapping of the Chung cake, additionally referred to as the Tet cake, cleansing and adorning properties with kumquats, peach blossoms and apricot blossoms are additionally an integral a part of preparations.
And the day earlier than Tet, households put together 5 fruit trays that are laid out on the altar for ancestors, whereas visits to the graves of ancestors are made with choices.
Sometimes the primary day of celebration is reserved for the paternal aspect of the household whereas the second day is for the maternal aspect.
Vietnamese tradition additionally locations academics in excessive regard, with the third day of the brand new yr devoted to honouring academics.
Tibet’s ‘Losar’ and Mongolia’s ‘Tsagaan Sar’
In Tibet and elements of India with vital Tibetan Buddhist communities, Losar, which interprets to the brand new yr on the Tibetan lunisolar calendar, is widely known round an identical timeframe because the Chinese language New Yr.
Nevertheless, the dates are barely totally different, with this yr’s Losar set to be marked on February 28 and lengthening over a interval of 15 days.
Losar is usually noticed by way of conventional and non secular rituals carried out in monasteries and temples, cultural occasions and household bonding over shared meals and presents.
Mongolia will rejoice its new yr, referred to as Tsagaan Sar on March 1, primarily based on the Mongolian lunisolar calendar.
Nevertheless, preparations start upfront, which incorporates home cleansing and making ready meals. Household, neighbours and pals go to one another, choices are devoted to deities and the precise new yr’s day is began by strolling in a selected course primarily based on zodiac prescriptions.
