Chinese New Year: date, which animal is celebrated in 2023?

Chinese New Year date which animal is celebrated in 2023

The Chinese New Year will be held on Sunday, January 22, 2023. And according to Chinese astrology it will be the year of the Rabbit, an element of Water.

Like every year, the Chinese diasporas have kept the custom of celebrating the Chinese New Year, also called “Spring Festival”. This festival marks the transition from one season to another, and therefore the end of winter. At the beginning, it was even an agricultural festival, which was used by the peasants for their harvests. Since then, the Chinese New Year is an opportunity for families to get together after dark and share many moments together. Because the Chinese New Year lasts not for one day but for fifteen days. Also know that the holiday is celebrated in Vietnam under the name “Tet Day”.

For this new Year, Chinese New Year takes place on Sunday, January 22, 2023. It will mark the start of the Year of the Rabbit, a water animal in Chinese astrology. The year will end on Friday, February 9, 2024.

Why does the Chinese New Year change date every year?

The date of Chinese New Year varies every year as it is calculated according to the Chinese lunar calendar. The first day of the year must be on the second new moon after the winter solstice, before the lunar phase of vernal equinox. In general, it falls between January 20 and February 21. For 2024, the Chinese New Year will take place on Saturday February 10, 2024 and it will be the year of the Dragon, under the element of Wood.

Why does the Chinese New Year extend over 15 days?

According to tradition, the Chinese New Year lasts an average of fifteen days, until the first full moon of the year which falls on the day of the lantern festival. During this time, many festivities are organized in honor of the deities but also to get rid of the negative things suffered during the past year, in order to start a new year balanced, lucky or even providential.

What is the Lantern Festival?

The Lantern Festival, which also bears the name “Little New Year”, closes the Chinese New Year festivities. It takes place on Sunday February 5, 2023. During this festival, the Chinese meet with family or friends to eat yuanxiao, stuffed rice balls, served in a soup whose rounded shape symbolizes the reunited family. In the evening, they go out into the street with lanterns in their hands to watch the moon, admire the fireworks, and play riddles written on the lanterns. During the day, various dances and walks on stilts are also organized. This custom dates back to the time of Emperor Qin Shihuang, who unified China around 2 centuries BC. Lantern riddles appeared later during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

lantern festival © Thainoipho-123RF

Chinese New Year 2023 sign: the Water Rabbit animal

According to Chinese astrology, 2023 will be the year of the Water Rabbit. A cautious and sensitive animal, the Rabbit is generally a sign of good omen. He is certainly the most sensitive of the Chinese zodiac signs, he is particularly vigilant, a bit clumsy but that does not prevent him from being skilful in all circumstances. He is also very intuitive and creative thanks to his sensitivity.

What are the Chinese New Year traditions?

If you are lucky enough to travel to a country (or neighborhood) celebrating the Chinese New Year, you will never forget this unique experience. In order to celebrate the event with dignity, houses and buildings are adorned with red decorations. During the New Year’s Eve dinner, multiple dishes, with very specific meanings, follow one another. At the end of the meal, the guests exchange red envelopes. They can contain money or congratulatory messages. No Chinese New Year without firecrackers and fireworks! For hundreds of years, they have accompanied the transition to the new year. In the streets, one can also witness the dragon and lion dance and savor traditional snacks.

Our manual activities around the Chinese New Year

To keep the children busy and get them involved in preparing for the Chinese New Year, Hugo the snail offers you manual activities to do with young and old. A dragon with toilet paper rolls, dragon heads to cut out, Chinese New Year calendars to print or even a lantern-making workshop… Find all our activity ideas:

What is the Chinese New Year meal, what do we eat?

Chinese New Year Meal is also called “Spring Banquet” and is most often shared with family. What is on the menu is never chosen at random because the dishes must bring happiness and prosperity for the whole year to those who taste them. This is also why the dishes are generous!

On the tables, we almost necessarily find Fish, for what comes from the sea is considered a sign of abundance in China. Noodles, symbols of longevity, accompany the main dish. It is not uncommon forChinese fondue is prepared, allowing meat, vegetables and fish to be cooked. Sometimes we also find a meat dish, such as Peking duck or pork with caramel. Jiaozi ravioli, imperial rolls are also served on the side. Finally, for dessert, fruits are very present because many of them have a symbolic value and all represent health, happiness and prosperity. Clementines have pride of place, as they are synonymous with happy events in Chinese tradition. Cakes also hold an important place, such as “fortune cookies” and nougats, but on the Nian gao. It’s about traditional chinese new year cake and it is made from sticky rice and red bean paste. Obviously, all this represents a gargantuan meal, but it is a way to celebrate the new year in style and each dish is only tasted in small quantities by each guest. In addition, leftovers are highly regarded as they would ensure success in the coming year.

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