Celebrating Chinese New Year

Celebrating Chinese New Year

Celebrated by more than 20 % of the world, 中国新年, or Chinese New Year in Mandarin, happened this past Saturday on January 25th. With each new year, an animal from the Chinese zodiac is chosen to represent the entire year. The animals of the Chinese zodiac are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. The Chinese zodiac is especially important to those who celebrate Chinese New Year, as the signs can often predict things such as careers, marriages, the best time to have children, and more. This zodiac system has existed in Chinese culture for almost 2,000 years (since the Qin dynasty). The zodiac system switches animals every year and re-starts after twelve years. 2020 happens to be the year of the rat. Here is a chart from chinesenewyear.net if you want to find out what animal was your birth year. 

During Chinese New Year, families celebrate by cooking traditional dishes such as spring rolls, dumplings, steamed fish, a dish by the name of Nian Gao which is also known as a “rice cake”, and many more. Families also celebrate by hanging different decorations like paper cut art of the Chinese zodiac animals, red and gold paper pasted on walls with the word “fu” which means happiness and good fortune, lanterns, and many more. One common festivity of the Chinese New Year is the handing out of red pockets or a red envelope with money inside. Adults often give these pockets to children for luck in the new year.

            Cooper wishes a Happy New Year to all of our families who celebrate! Or, in Mandarin, 

新年快乐.

“Chinese Zodiac – Chinese New Year 2020.” Chinese New Year 2018, chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/.