After a long Janu-worry, it’s thankfully now time to welcome in a new month. This year, 1 February is also the first day of the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year. Every year, China and Chinese communities around the world celebrate the New Year with a 15-day festival. Because it is a lunar celebration – meaning that it is based on the cycles of the moon – the dates vary every year. This year it begins today!
Chinese New Year 2022
Traditionally, Chinese New Year is a time for feasting and celebrations, in honour of household and heavenly deities and ancestors. To mark the occasion, red lanterns are hung, gifts are exchanged, and fireworks are set off. Families celebrate together, wearing special clothes and playing traditional games, to ensure good fortune for the year ahead, which sounds like a good idea to us!
2022 is the year of the Water Tiger. But what does that actually mean?
The year of the Water Tiger
The Chinese zodiac has 12 signs, each lasting a year. These 12 signs correspond to an animal. Each Chinese year is also one of five elements: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal. 1 February 2022 to 21 January 2023 is the year of the Tiger, and the element Water – hence the year of the Water Tiger.
The year of the Tiger is a year to get things done; it’s a time associated with achievements. When you think about tigers, they are wild and roam free. They are not scared of competition, because they know how fierce they are. If you were born in the year of the Tiger, this is likely to be reflected in your personality and your go-getter attitude.
Previous years of the Tiger are: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, and 2010.
Water, on the other hand, symbolises calm and quiet, and is associated with emotions and family.
In combination, this year we can expect to see families coming together in ambitious ways. Perhaps you will embark on a new venture with a friend or family member. Or maybe an established relationship will flourish. At the same time, you can expect challenges in these relationships too, when you will need to be brave.
However, if you were born in the year of the Tiger, you can unfortunately expect some bad luck, as the year of your birth sign is considered the unluckiest for you.
How is Chinese New year celebrated?
Many people start preparing for Chinese New Year a few weeks before. Usually the period before Chinese New Year is a time to clean your house to get rid of bad luck and negative energy. Houses are decorated with red lanterns.
People reunite with their families, returning from work or school to spend the holidays with their families.
The day before the New Year (January 31st this year) is celebrated as New Year’s Eve. During the celebrations, children are given red envelopes with money and sweets from their families.
The final day of the celebrations this year will be the 15th February, which is known as the Lantern Festival.
If you are celebrating Chinese New Year,
Xīnnián kuàilè (新年快乐 )
or
Gong hei fat choy (恭喜发财)!
The post Chinese New Year 2022: The Year of the Water Tiger appeared first on The TEFL Academy Blog.
