Lunar New Year or Spring Festival is primarily celebrated in the Chinese community at the rise of the second moon after the winter solstice. As the festival date depends on the moon cycles, the Lunar New Year does not fall on the same date every year. Generally, the festival falls anywhere between 20th January to 21st February as per the Gregorian calendar.
Chinese New Year is associated with the 12 animals representing 12 zodiac signs. These animals are dragon, horse, rabbit, goat, rooster, dog, monkey, rat, pig, tiger, and ox. Chinese New Year 2024 would fall on 1st February.
Chinese New Year: History
The spring festival finds its roots in folklore since its inception roughly 3500 years ago. According to a tale, once there was a beast named ‘Nian’ who used to destroy livestock, crops, and also harm people. The people of the village used to keep the food outside their homes to keep the beast away from destroying their homes.
Later, a wise man discovered that Nian was scared of red color and loud noises. From then, people started decorating their houses with red lanterns and started bursting firecrackers.
Chinese New Year: significance
People celebrate Chinese or Lunar New Year to usher out the previous year, welcome the new year, and along with it, new possibilities, opportunities, and luck. This year, the Chinese new year will be Tiger, which means people who are born in this year will be fierce, brave, and strong.