Dragons, fireworks and red packets of money kicked off this year’s Chinese New Year, and the Year of the Pig will be celebrated for the next two weeks. The New Year celebration period will end with a special lantern festival.
Here are some things to know about the Lunar Year.
When does it happen? The Chinese New Year began Tuesday, which marks the start of the lunar year. That begins with the start of the new moon, the BBC reported. The day fluctuates annually, since the date of the new moon varies from year to year -- but the holiday will always fall sometime between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20.
Next year's lunar year begins Jan. 25, according to the BBC.
What's in a name? People of Chinese descent refer to the Lunar New Year as Chunjie, or the Spring Festival. Because it is celebrated in different parts of the world besides mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, the Lunar New Year has different names, according to National Geographic. In Vietnam, it is called Tet. In Korea, it is called Seollal, and people in Tibet refer to it as Losar.
Chinese Zodiac: There are 12 Chinese Zodiac signs, and they are taken much more seriously than horoscopes. This year's animal, the pig, is a symbol of optimism, enthusiasm and hard work, the BBC reported. Coveted signs include the dragon, which is thought to be strong, authoritative and successful. The dog is sincere, loyal and independent, while the rabbit is modest, sensitive and warm. The Year of the Pig was last celebrated in 2007; it will be celebrated again in 2031
Lots of noise: Firecrackers explode all night when the Lunar New Year begins. While the Chinese government has clamped down on fireworks in the cities, smaller towns continue to set off fireworks, according to National Geographic. The fireworks served a major function for Chinese residents, according to the magazine: to scare away Nian. According to legend, the dragon-lion monster would attack villagers and sometimes eat children, but was frightened by loud noises. Nian also does not like the color red, which means lunar new year revelers will be decked out in red, CNN reported.
Seeing red: Red is not just used to scare legendary monsters. In traditional and even contemporary Chinese culture, red is equated with happiness and prosperity, according to National Geographic. If it is your Zodiac year, you should wear an abundance of red to protect against bad luck. For those who do not like red as an outer garment, the Chinese sell red underwear, the magazine reported.
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