What is the myth behind Chinese New Year?
The origins of the Chinese New Year are steeped in legend. One legend is that thousands of years ago a monster named Nian (“Year”) would attack villagers at the beginning of each new year. The monster was afraid of loud noises, bright lights, and the colour red, so those things were used to chase the beast away.
What is bad luck on Chinese New Year?
Avoid breaking a bowl, plate, glass, etc. Breaking symbolizes incompleteness and bad luck. Breaking a bowl, plate, glass, vase, or mirror during the Spring Festival is considered a bringer of bad fortune, monetary loss, or family breakup.
Who invented Lunar New Year?
In 104 BCE Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE) approved a calendar reform that fixed the beginning of the year on the day of the first new moon after the sun enters the 11th sign of the solar zodiac, or the second new moon after the winter solstice.
Why is Chinese New Year so important?
Lunar New Year, also called Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in China. Tied to the Chinese lunar calendar, the holiday began as a time for feasting and to honor household and heavenly deities, as well as ancestors.
What is taboo during Chinese New Year?
On the first day of the lunar year: There are many taboos on this day. No washing clothes or hair or bathing. The first and second day of the lunar year is the birthday of the “Water God”, so you are not supposed to use water to show respect for the Water God. No sweeping the floor or taking out rubbish.
What color do you wear on Chinese New Year?
red
Chinese usually wear red or other brightly-colored clothes on New Year’s Day, to go with the festive and upbeat mood. Red is China’s good luck color, believed to scare away spirits of bad fortune. Some families wear traditional Chinese clothing like qipao or Tangzhuang.
What’s the difference between Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year?
In China, there is no difference between the Chinese New Year and the Lunar New Year. These two phrases are both refer to the Spring Festival (春节 chūnjié). Chinese Lunar New Year is the 1st of the first month in the Chinese calendar.
What is the legend story about Nian?
Long, long ago in ancient China, there was a fierce beast called “Nian”. Its head looked like a lion with a sharp horn on it which could be used to attack its prey. It lived at the bottom of the sea most of the time and would go ashore only on the last day of the lunar year to eat people and livestock.
Is Nian a boy or girl?
Nian
| Name | Nian |
|---|---|
| Meaning | One who Knows |
| Gender | Boy |
| Numerology | 2 |
What is the origin of the Chinese New Year?
The origins of the Chinese New Year are steeped in legend. One legend is that thousands of years ago a monster named Nian (“Year”) would attack villagers at the beginning of each new year. The monster was afraid of loud noises, bright lights, and the colour red, so those things were used to chase the beast away.
What is the origin of the New Year’s Day legend?
One legend is that thousands of years ago a monster named Nian (“Year”) would attack villagers at the beginning of each new year. The monster was afraid of loud noises, bright lights, and the colour red, so those things were used to chase the beast away.
What are some Chinese mythology stories to celebrate Chinese New Year?
To celebrate the Chinese new year, Moon Princess author Barbara Laban, shares her favourite mythological stories from China, from Sun Wukong the monkey king to how the Chinese zodiac began Lin Hui the panda grabs traditional red packages to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year which starts today and marks the year of the monkey.
Why do we celebrate Chinese New Year with lights?
Legend spoke of the wild beast Nian (which also is the word for “year”) that appeared at the end of each year, attacking and killing villagers. Loud noises and bright lights were used to scare the beast away, and the Chinese New Year celebrations were born.