This year, 2023, the Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year begins on 22nd of January and ends on 5th of February. This is the Year of the Rabbit and may it hops us into a prosperous & delightful new year. CNY, also known as Spring Festival, is a celebration that begins on the New Year’s Eve and ends with the Lantern Festival, which is the 15th day of the new year. Each day of the celebration has its own significance and customs.
Let’s get it started!
Before CNY: The celebration of CNY starts on New Year’s Eve which is 除夕 in Chinese. Families gather around for a reunion dinner, typically at the homes of their parents or the eldest son. It features traditional foods such as dumplings, meat dishes and more regional food like Guangxi, Hakka food or more. The meal also consists of Fireworks set off to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.
1st day: Chinese New Year's Day. This is the most important day of the celebration and is traditionally spent on visiting family and friends, exchanging red envelopes filled with money, and wishing each other good luck for a better year to come. People typically wear new clothes and give red envelopes filled with money to children as a symbol of good luck.
2nd day: Married daughters visit their birth families and pay respects to their parents and grandparents.
3rd day: It is said that this day is the day to stay at home and avoid confrontation as it is easier to lose temper and have arguement.
4th day: This is the day to honour the Kitchen God, this god is the guardian of family. Whereby, people typically celebrate this day with their family.
5th day: This is the "God of Wealth's Birthday," and people usually visit friends and family, give red envelopes, and exchange gifts. The god of wealth's birthday and people will light fireworks to scare away evil spirits.
6th day: Some people would return to work on this day and others continue to visit their friends and families.
7th day: On this day, it is traditional for some people to visit the graves of their ancestors and make offerings as a way to pay respects and honor their memories. This typically takes place on the seventh day of the Chinese New Year, also known as "Human's Birthday" as it marks the first week of the New Year.
According to Nations Online, people visit the graves of their ancestors and make offerings such as burning incense, paper money, and other items believed to be useful in the afterlife. This is done as a way to pay respects and honor the memory of the ancestors. It is worth noting that this tradition is not common to all regions or families, some people may choose to visit the graves on other days of the Chinese New Year or not at all.
This is when people traditionally eat noodles, symbolizing long life.
8th day: People give thanks to the kitchen god and prepare for the Jade Emperor’s birthday.
9th day: This is the "Heaven's Birthday" and it is when the Jade Emperor's birthday is celebrated and people will burn incense and make offerings to their ancestors. People burn incense and make offerings to their ancestors.
10th day: This is the "Mother Earth's Birthday" and it is customary to give red envelopes to children and to eat glutinous rice cakes.
11th - 14th Day: On day 11th to 14th of the Chinese New Year are typically not as significant as the other days of the celebration, but are still part of the 15-day long festival. Some families and communities may have their own specific customs and traditions for these days, but they are not as widely celebrated as the other days of the Chinese New Year. Some people may continue to visit friends and relatives, or may just take the time to relax and enjoy the remaining days of the festival.
It is worth noting that the costumes and traditions can vary by region and family.
15th day: Lantern Festival. This is the last day of the Chinese New Year celebrations, and it is customary to release lanterns into the sky and to eat glutinous rice balls. People also participate in lantern riddle games as a way to bring good luck for the coming year.
A 15 days long festivities for Chinese New Year is a tradition that is unique and as exciting as it sounds, each day has its own customs and significance. From reunion dinner, wishing good luck, to visiting family and friends, giving red envelopes, and eating traditional foods.
Will you be celebrating with your family at hometown or ‘balik kampung’? Or will you be chilling at home enjoying your much-awaited break? Let me know in the comments section.
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