For the Chinese New Year, it is customary to give an animal figurine, symbolizing the patron saint of the next 365 days. On this, the knowledge of most Europeans about the meeting of this holiday is limited, while the Celestial Empire has its own traditions from time immemorial. How to Celebrate New Year in Chinese?
Instructions
Step 1
Wait until the winter solstice and count the second new moon from the date. The holiday usually falls at the end of January - mid-February. A new moon is when the moon is completely "dark", and not the appearance of a crescent moon, as it might be thought in other calendars. In China, this day is considered the beginning of spring and is called Chunjie.
Step 2
Decorate the walls of the house with beautiful drawings, inscriptions and wishes for the next year. Decorate the rooms with pine and cypress branches, coins, red lanterns. The symbol of the New Year is tangerines, which are usually given to each other by two. Orange citrus fruits decorate the home a few days before the onset of the holiday. Fruit must also be on the New Year's table. The phrase "a pair of tangerines" in Chinese is consonant with the word "gold".
Step 3
Set the festive table. It is customary to prepare treats in advance, so that a few hours before the New Year, you will not frighten off good spirits with a knife. According to popular beliefs, there should be an abundance of different treats on the table. The traditional dish is dumplings called "jiao-tzu", a soup with dumplings or noodles.
Step 4
Get together with your relatives on the eve of the desired date, because New Year is a family holiday. The streets of China at this time are quiet and deserted, because everyone is at home. According to tradition, you should be in scarlet clothes, it is this color that scares away all evil spirits. Instruct the head of the family to seal the door of the dwelling with red strips of paper with New Year's symbols so that the monsters cannot interfere with the arrival of the patron saint and good spirits.
Step 5
Give gifts to family members. Traditionally, these can be tigers, dragons, fish, decorations in the form of the hieroglyph "happiness", red lanterns, firecrackers. For the New Year, it is customary to give paired items as a sign of wishes for family well-being. Red envelopes for money - hongbao - are in great demand for the holiday. It is believed that the glitter of coins and rustling of bills scares away evil spirits. Such a red envelope is a must-have for children.
Step 6
Stock up on firecrackers and firecrackers. Traditionally, the cunning Chinese use pyrotechnics and lights to scare away a terrible monster nicknamed Nian. If it appears, then the cold sets in, the water in the rivers freezes, plants and flowers die. But if you frighten off the monster Nian, then the fertile season will come again. At twelve o'clock sharp, launch fiery rockets and colorful fireworks into the sky.
Step 7
On the days of the holiday, traditional performances are always held. It can be dragon dances, lion dances, street festivities. New Year is celebrated in China for a whole week. Residents of the Celestial Empire pay a visit to all their relatives, visit friends.
