60 Fun Facts About Chinese New Year

How many animals are in the Chinese zodiac cycle?

The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 animals in a repeating cycle. Each animal represents one year, so the full cycle takes 12 years to complete.

What color is considered the luckiest during Chinese New Year?

Red is the most auspicious color in Chinese culture, symbolizing good fortune, joy, and prosperity. It is used extensively during Chinese New Year in decorations, clothing, and the famous red envelopes.

Which animal is first in the Chinese zodiac cycle?

The Rat is the first animal in the Chinese zodiac. According to legend, the Jade Emperor held a race to determine the order, and the clever Rat hitched a ride on the Ox and jumped off at the finish line to claim first place.

What do people traditionally set off to scare away evil spirits during Chinese New Year?

Firecrackers are a hallmark of Chinese New Year. The loud bangs are believed to frighten away evil spirits and the legendary monster Nian. The tradition dates back over 2,000 years.

Chinese New Year is also widely known by what other name?

Chinese New Year is also called Lunar New Year because it follows the lunisolar calendar. This name is often preferred as a more inclusive term since the holiday is celebrated across many Asian cultures, not just Chinese ones.

What are the red envelopes given during Chinese New Year called in Mandarin?

Hong bao literally means red packet or red envelope. They contain money and are given as gifts during Chinese New Year and other special occasions, symbolizing good wishes and luck.

What traditional Chinese New Year food symbolizes wealth because its shape resembles gold ingots?

Dumplings (jiaozi) are shaped like ancient Chinese gold ingots (yuanbao), making them a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Families often make them together on New Year's Eve, and some hide a coin inside one for extra luck.

In which month does Chinese New Year typically fall on the Gregorian calendar?

Chinese New Year falls between January 21 and February 20 on the Gregorian calendar. The exact date changes each year because it is determined by the lunisolar calendar.

What kind of dance, featuring a long puppet operated by many people, is performed during Chinese New Year parades?

The dragon dance features a long, colorful dragon puppet held aloft on poles by a team of dancers. The dragon symbolizes power, strength, and good luck. Longer dragons are believed to bring more luck.

What is the big family dinner on New Year's Eve called in Chinese tradition?

Nian ye fan (literally New Year's Eve dinner) is the most important meal of the year in Chinese culture. The whole family gathers for a lavish feast, and it is considered bad luck to miss it.

Which mythical creature is said to have inspired the Chinese New Year celebration?

According to legend, Nian was a fearsome beast that would come on the first day of the new year to eat livestock, crops, and even children. Villagers discovered it feared loud noises, fire, and the color red, giving rise to the traditions of firecrackers and red decorations.

Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year because it follows which type of calendar?

Chinese New Year follows the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, which is based on both the moon's phases and the sun's position. This is why the date shifts each year relative to the Gregorian calendar.

How many days does the Chinese New Year festival traditionally last?

The Chinese New Year festival traditionally lasts 15 days, beginning on New Year's Day and ending with the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

Which event marks the final day of Chinese New Year celebrations?

The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th and final day of the Chinese New Year celebrations. People display colorful lanterns, solve riddles written on them, and eat sweet glutinous rice balls called tangyuan.

What is the Chinese character commonly displayed upside-down on doors during Chinese New Year?

The character fu, meaning fortune or blessing, is often hung upside-down because the word for upside-down (dao) sounds like the word for arrive (dao). So an inverted fu symbolizes that fortune has arrived.

Which long, sticky rice cake eaten during Chinese New Year symbolizes achieving new heights each year?

Nian gao (year cake) is a sticky glutinous rice cake. Its name is a homophone for 'year high,' symbolizing growth, progress, and the hope of reaching new heights in the coming year.

What fruit is commonly displayed during Chinese New Year because its name sounds like 'gold' in Chinese?

Oranges and tangerines are popular during Chinese New Year. In Cantonese, the word for orange sounds like 'gold,' and in Mandarin, tangerine (ju) sounds like 'luck.' They symbolize wealth and good fortune.

What is the name of the traditional lion dance performed during Chinese New Year?

The lion dance is called wu shi (舞狮) in Mandarin. Two dancers operate the lion costume, one controlling the head and one the body. It is believed to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits.

Why is it considered bad luck to sweep the floor during the first few days of Chinese New Year?

Sweeping during the first days of Chinese New Year is taboo because it is believed to sweep away good luck and wealth. Many families do a thorough cleaning before New Year's Day to avoid this.

In what year did the People's Republic of China officially adopt the Gregorian calendar, making the traditional New Year a 'Spring Festival'?

When the People's Republic of China was established in 1949, the government officially adopted the Gregorian calendar and renamed the traditional Lunar New Year as the Spring Festival (Chun Jie) to distinguish it from the January 1 New Year.

Which zodiac animal is associated with the year 2024?

2024 is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. The Dragon is the only mythical creature among the 12 zodiac animals and is considered the most powerful and auspicious sign.

In the Chinese zodiac legend, how did the Rat beat the Ox to become the first animal?

According to the legend, the Jade Emperor held a great race. The Rat, being small but clever, asked the Ox for a ride. Just before reaching the finish line, the Rat leapt off the Ox's head to land first.

What is the traditional greeting 'Gong Xi Fa Cai' wishing someone?

Gong Xi Fa Cai is one of the most common Chinese New Year greetings. It means 'Wishing you prosperity and wealth.' Gong xi means congratulations, and fa cai means to become wealthy.

Which deity do families honor by smearing honey on a paper image's lips before burning it before New Year?

The Kitchen God (Zao Jun) is believed to report each family's behavior to the Jade Emperor. Before New Year, families smear honey on his paper image's lips so he will only say sweet things, then burn the image to send him to heaven.

Whole fish is a must-have dish at the New Year's Eve dinner. What does the Chinese word for fish (yu) also sound like?

The word for fish (yu) is a homophone of the word for surplus or abundance. Eating fish at the reunion dinner represents the wish 'nian nian you yu,' meaning 'may you have abundance year after year.'

What do the two lines of poetry pasted on either side of a doorframe during Chinese New Year represent?

Spring couplets (chunlian) are pairs of poetic lines written in black or gold ink on red paper, pasted on doorframes. They express hopes for good fortune, happiness, and prosperity in the new year.

Which country calls its Lunar New Year celebration 'Tet'?

Vietnam's Lunar New Year is called Tet (short for Tet Nguyen Dan, meaning 'Feast of the First Morning'). It is the most important holiday in Vietnamese culture, celebrated with similar traditions to Chinese New Year but with distinct Vietnamese customs.

What is the Korean name for the Lunar New Year celebration?

Seollal is the Korean Lunar New Year. Koreans celebrate with sebae (bowing to elders), wearing hanbok (traditional clothing), and eating tteokguk (rice cake soup), which symbolizes gaining a year of age.

During Chinese New Year, what food is traditionally eaten on the 15th day (Lantern Festival)?

Tangyuan are sweet glutinous rice balls served in soup, eaten during the Lantern Festival. Their round shape symbolizes family unity and togetherness. The name sounds like 'tuan yuan,' meaning reunion.

What is the significance of wearing new clothes on Chinese New Year's Day?

Wearing new clothes on New Year's Day symbolizes a fresh start and new beginnings. It represents leaving behind the old year and welcoming the new one with a clean slate.

Which animal is last (12th) in the Chinese zodiac cycle?

The Pig is the 12th and final animal in the Chinese zodiac. In the great race legend, the Pig stopped to eat and nap along the way, arriving last. People born in the Year of the Pig are said to be compassionate, generous, and diligent.

In Chinese tradition, what specific amount of money should you NOT put in a red envelope?

The number 4 is considered extremely unlucky in Chinese culture because the word for four (si) sounds like the word for death (si). You should never give amounts like 40, 400, etc. Even numbers are generally preferred, especially amounts with 8 (which sounds like 'prosper').

What traditional Chinese New Year decoration literally translates to 'spring happiness' and is a diamond-shaped piece of red paper?

While chunlian typically refers to spring couplets, the diamond-shaped red paper decorations with the character fu or chun are part of the chunlian tradition. These diamond-shaped pieces are called dou fang and often display the fu character.

What does the Chinese zodiac animal the Dragon symbolize?

The Dragon is the most revered zodiac animal, symbolizing power, strength, and good fortune. In Chinese culture, the Dragon represents the Emperor and imperial power. Years of the Dragon often see a spike in birth rates as parents want dragon-year children.

The Chinese New Year period is the world's largest annual human migration, known in Mandarin as what?

Chunyun (Spring Festival travel season) is the 40-day period around Chinese New Year when hundreds of millions of Chinese people travel home for family reunions. It is the largest annual human migration on Earth, with billions of trips made each year.

Which type of tree or plant is commonly decorated and displayed indoors during Chinese New Year for good luck?

Kumquat trees are popular during Chinese New Year because the Cantonese word for kumquat (gam gwat) sounds like 'gold' and 'luck.' The golden fruits symbolize wealth, and the trees are displayed in homes and businesses.

According to Chinese tradition, on which day of the New Year period should you avoid visiting others because it is considered an unlucky day for socializing?

The third day of Chinese New Year is called Chi Kou (Red Mouth) and is considered an unlucky day for visiting or socializing. It is believed that arguments and quarrels are likely on this day, so many people stay home.

What is the name of the sweet dried meat snack that is especially popular in Singapore and Malaysia during Chinese New Year?

Bak kwa (also spelled bakwa) is a sweet, salty dried meat product similar to jerky. Originating from Fujian province, it became hugely popular in Singapore and Malaysia during Chinese New Year, where queues for premium bak kwa can stretch for hours.

What is the traditional reason for the loud banging of drums and cymbals during the lion dance?

The drums, cymbals, and gongs during the lion dance serve the dual purpose of keeping rhythm for the dancers and driving away evil spirits. The louder the percussion, the more effective it is believed to be at scaring off bad luck.

In the Chinese zodiac, which animal year follows the Year of the Dragon?

The Snake follows the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. The full order is: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

What is the name of the tray of snacks and sweets arranged in a circular or octagonal container, served to guests during Chinese New Year?

The Chuen Hop, or Tray of Togetherness, is an octagonal or round tray with multiple compartments filled with symbolic treats: candied melon (growth), red melon seeds (happiness), lychee nuts (family bonds), kumquats (prosperity), and more.

Which Chinese dynasty first established the practice of setting off firecrackers made from bamboo to celebrate the New Year?

During the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD), people threw bamboo stalks into fires, where the hollow segments would pop and crack loudly. These 'bamboo firecrackers' (baozhu) were the predecessors of gunpowder firecrackers, which came later during the Tang and Song dynasties.

What type of paper cutting art, featuring intricate designs in red paper, is a traditional Chinese New Year decoration?

Jianzhi is the traditional Chinese art of paper cutting. During Chinese New Year, intricate red paper cuts depicting animals, flowers, and auspicious characters are placed on windows and doors. The art form dates back to the 6th century and is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In Chinese astrology, what are the five elements that modify the zodiac animals?

The five elements (wu xing) in Chinese astrology are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each element cycles every two years, combining with the 12 animals to create a 60-year grand cycle. So a 'Water Tiger' year differs from a 'Fire Tiger' year.

What is 'ya sui qian,' and who typically receives it?

Ya sui qian literally means 'suppressing age money.' It is the money placed inside red envelopes and given primarily to children and unmarried young people by married adults and elders. The tradition is meant to protect recipients from evil spirits.

Which major Chinese city banned fireworks and firecrackers within its central areas in 2023, reversing a centuries-old New Year tradition?

Multiple major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and many others have enacted bans or restrictions on fireworks in urban areas due to air pollution, fire safety, and noise concerns. Beijing first banned them in the central city in 1993, briefly relaxed rules, then tightened again.

What traditional dessert, made of puffed rice and maltose syrup, is associated with offerings to the Kitchen God before New Year?

Gua tang, a sticky candy made from maltose, is offered to the Kitchen God before his journey to report to the Jade Emperor. The stickiness is meant to seal his lips so he cannot speak ill of the family, similar to the honey tradition.

According to the legend, what three things did the old man tell villagers would repel the monster Nian?

In the most common version of the legend, a wise old man told the villagers that Nian feared the color red, loud noises, and bright light/fire. This is why Chinese New Year traditions include red decorations, firecrackers, and lanterns.

What is the CCTV New Year's Gala (Chunwan), and approximately how many viewers does it draw annually?

The CCTV New Year's Gala (Chunwan) is a massive variety show broadcast on Chinese New Year's Eve. It regularly attracts over 700 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched television events in the world. It has aired annually since 1983.

What is the significance of eating long, uncut noodles during Chinese New Year?

Long noodles (changshou mian, literally 'longevity noodles') are eaten during Chinese New Year to symbolize a long life. It is considered bad luck to cut or break the noodles before eating them.

In Cantonese, what is the lucky phrase associated with eating lettuce during New Year, and what does it mean?

In Cantonese, lettuce is called sang choi, which sounds like 'growing wealth' or 'generating fortune.' This is why lettuce wraps and lettuce-based dishes are popular during Chinese New Year, especially in Cantonese-speaking regions.

The Wufang Shangdi are five cosmic deities in Chinese mythology. On the fifth day of Chinese New Year, which one is specifically welcomed to ensure business success?

The fifth day of Chinese New Year is called Po Wu (Breaking the Fifth), when the God of Wealth (Cai Shen) is welcomed. In some traditions, the particular aspect welcomed is associated with the northern direction. Businesses set off firecrackers on this day to attract wealth for the new year.

What special steamed cake, whose name sounds like 'prosperity' in Chinese, is a traditional New Year offering in southern China?

Fa gao is a steamed cake whose name is a pun: 'fa' can mean both 'to rise' (as the cake does) and 'to prosper.' When the cake cracks open on top while steaming, it is a sign of good fortune. It is especially popular in Guangdong and Fujian provinces.

In the Tibetan calendar, their New Year celebration (similar to Chinese New Year but on different dates) is called what?

Losar is the Tibetan New Year, celebrated for 15 days. While it sometimes coincides with Chinese New Year, the Tibetan calendar can differ by up to a month. Celebrations include making torma (butter sculptures), performing cham dances, and preparing khapse (fried pastries).

What is Yu Sheng (Lo Hei), the colorful raw fish salad tossed high in the air during Chinese New Year in Southeast Asia?

Yu Sheng (Lo Hei) is a Cantonese-style raw fish salad that became a uniquely Southeast Asian Chinese New Year tradition. Diners toss the colorful ingredients high with chopsticks while shouting auspicious phrases. The higher the toss, the greater the prosperity expected.

What is the 'Renri' celebration on the 7th day of Chinese New Year?

Renri, the 7th day of the first lunar month, is known as Everyone's Birthday or the Common Man's Birthday. According to Chinese mythology, the goddess Nuwa created human beings on the 7th day after creating the world. It is celebrated by eating seven-vegetable soup (qi cai geng).

Approximately how many trips are made during Chunyun, China's Spring Festival travel rush, in a typical pre-pandemic year?

In a typical pre-pandemic year, Chunyun sees approximately 3 billion trips over the 40-day travel period. This makes it the largest annual human migration in the world, as hundreds of millions of workers travel home to their families from China's cities.

Which ancient Chinese text first described the custom of drinking Tusu wine on New Year's morning to ward off plague?

The Jingchu Suishiji, a 6th-century text recording seasonal customs of the Jingchu region, describes the custom of drinking Tusu wine on New Year's morning. The wine was made from herbs and was drunk from youngest to oldest, reversing the normal order of seniority.

What is the 'Stove Opening' (Kai Lu) custom on the 4th day of Chinese New Year?

On the 4th day of the New Year, families welcome the Kitchen God back from his journey to heaven, where he reported on the family's behavior. A small ceremony with incense and offerings is performed, and it marks the resumption of normal cooking after days of pre-prepared feast food.

In traditional Chinese New Year practice, what does it mean if a married woman returns to her parents' home on New Year's Day itself?

Traditionally, a married woman visiting her parents' home on New Year's Day was believed to bring bad luck and financial hardship to her natal family. The proper day for her to visit was the 2nd day of the new year, called Hui Niang Jia (Return to Mother's Home Day).