My family and I are very lucky. We get to celebrate two New Year events each year. The first one of course is January 1st when we celebrate the official New Year date in Canada and many other countries around the world. The second one celebrated by us and other Chinese people all around the world is Chinese New Years, which has different start date each year. The celebrations therefore have other names including the Lunar New Year and the Spring Festival. It’s a time for activities that last for a couple of weeks, so we have lots or time to visit our relatives and friends. A few days before the official start, many Chinese families prepare for the new year by doing a thorough house cleaning. This corresponds to what is often called Spring cleaning by others. At the end of the New Year season, there is often lantern festival (many houses will put up red decorations including red lanterns), special food, and fireworks to wind up the festivities on the 15th day.
A CHANGING DATE
This year the start date for Chinese New Year is February 16. The date changes every year because it is set according to the Chinese lunisolar calendar, which is based on the astronomical phases of the moon and adjusted to an average time period that corresponds to the length of the solar cycle. This is a very old calendar in which the days of the week and the lunar cycles (months) return to the same point in the solar year every 532 years.
On the Gregorian calendar, which has been in effect in the Western world since the 16th century, the Lunar New Year starts on the night of the new moon that happens anywhere from January 21 to February 20. This period is actually for the second new moon after the winter solstice (the day with the shortest daylight and the longest darkness). In Vancouver this year the Winter Solstice will fall on December 21. Based on the Winter Solstice in 2017, the Lunar New Year started last year on January 28 and next year the date will be February 5.
2018: YEAR OF THE DOG
Every Chinese New Year also has a name of an animal which carries symbolic meaning and is said to influence the personality of anyone born in that year. This year is the Year of Dog. The Dog in China is considered a loyal member and protector of a family, particularly for a farm family, and is also thought to be natural survivor so it can be independent and look after itself. Because the Chinese zodiac is made goes through a 2 year cycles, there is a Year of the Dog every 12 years. But they are not necessarily all the same kinds of Dogs. For example, this year is really the Year of the Earth Dog, and someone born this year should be a good communicator and also a good worker.
THE RED ENVELOPE TRADITION
Among the ways that Chinese people celebrate their New Year is with a gift of money in a traditional red envelope. This gift is not really for the value of the money but is meant as a wish to bring good luck and prosperity to the receiver. It is often given to children by relatives or close friends. Traditionally, the red envelopes also conveys the idea of luck and you see these envelopes in stationery and card stores at this time of year. But like every custom and tradition in the modern global world, technology is taking over in this area too. Now I see there is a special “app” for your mobile phone which is designed for the Chinese New Year gift. Instead of getting a real envelope with some cash inside, many children will be receiving a digital money transfer through their phone app. (I even noticed that Paypal has set up special “red envelop) money transfer on their site.) In a world where many grandparents could live thousands of miles from their grandchildren, this can be a marvellous way for them to keep up with the custom. However, I think that children will probably be much faster to learn how to use such an app than their elderly grandparents. Like so may traditions and customs, the important thing is that we can pass them on to our children, whatever tradition we hold on to. This makes for great global world that can celebrate so many different traditions and cultures.
At this time of year, my family and I wish you much good luck and prosperity for 2018.
Gung Hay Fat Chow! (Gong xi fa cai!)
Thanks for reading!
Sibo Zhang, REALTOR®