By Riley Medina and Kira Bate
Chinese New Year is the celebration of the coming of Spring. It falls every year on the second new moon after the winter solstice. In Chinese culture, each year is represented by one of twelve animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, and Dog. This is the year of the Wood Dragon. The Dragon is considered the luckiest animal, and in Chinese antiquity, emperors were thought to be the descendants of dragons. Those born in the year of the dragon are known for their tenacity, good leadership, and generosity. This lunar new year, starting on February tenth and culminating on the 17th, should bring new, rejuvenated beginnings and success in long-term plans.
What can you do to celebrate? The Lunar New Year is rooted in a variety of traditions, and many begin preparing for their celebrations starting from the beginning of February. On the second and third, make some time to clean your house. This way, you can say farewell to the old and make space for the new. This tradition is known as Little Year, and it typically lasts from the second of February through the ninth. On the tenth of February, decorate your house in red and gold, and host a dinner with family and friends! These traditions call in luck and prosperity in the new year. Many who celebrate the lunar new year will also stay up late on the tenth, and set off firecrackers. Other simple ways to celebrate include eating oranges (the Chinese words for tangerine and orange closely resemble the words for luck and wealth) and wearing new clothes on New Year’s Day.
A holiday involving many superstitions, there are a variety of ‘taboos’ to avoid during the New Year:
Saying Negative Words - many believe that saying negative words such as “sick”, “ghost”, “break”, or “death” could cause you to jinx yourself or your loved ones. When in doubt, knock on wood!
Breaking glass - it is commonly thought that the breaking of glass or ceramics during the new year could potentially break your connection to prosperity and good fortune.
Sweeping - during the new year, ‘good luck’ covers everything in the physical world like fine dust, for this reason, sweeping may cause you to sweep it away! If you absolutely must sweep it is recommended you sweep from the outer edges of a space towards the middle, this way the luck is gathered rather than dispersed.
Taking a shower - similar to sweeping, showering on the new year is thought to wash away your good luck and should be avoided on the tenth.
Using scissors or knives - some believe that the use of scissors or other cutting tools can ‘cut’ off your stream of wealth or prosperity. Although, this taboo was originally created to give Chinese women a well-deserved break from domestic chores.
Wish a happy lunar new year to someone still in bed - some believe that doing so will leave the recipient bedridden for the rest of the year!
Gifting Clocks - although it is customary to bring small gifts to friends and family on the lunar new year, clocks are forbidden gifts during this time. In Mandarin, gifting clocks is a homonym of paying one’s last respects (送钟 / sòng zhōng).
Wearing Black - in contrast to common lucky colors such as red, orange, and gold, black is a color commonly associated with bad luck.
No matter how you celebrate, the Chinese Lunar New Year is an excellent time to gather with loved ones and call in good luck and prosperity for the coming year. From all of us at Green and Gold, Gongxi (恭喜), best wishes!