The Chinese New Year is an annual festival that commemorates the beginning of the lunar new year calendar. There are several celebrations within the festival that are enjoyed by people all around the world. In this guide, you’ll discover the ins and outs of the festival and some of the history behind it.
About the Chinese New Year 2023
The Chinese New Year 2023 is a 16-day festival that commences on January 21st with the New Year’s Eve celebrations. This year is the Year of the Rabbit, which means that this year is considered bad luck if you were born in a rabbit year. In China, a one-week public holiday is held from the 21st.
Throughout the course of the festival, there are several important dates that are marked with traditional activities. The festival culminates with the Lantern Festival, which sees lanterns lit and dragon dances filling the street. The event marks the beginning of Spring and is also called the Spring Festival in China.
The Key Dates for the Lunar New Year
As an ancient holiday, the lunar new year has many different facets that are celebrated over 16 days. There are several traditional elements to the festival, which include avoiding certain taboos, visiting friends and family, prayers and self-reflection, and rest.
What does the Year of the Rabbit have in store for you?
Lucky Animals in 2023
One important element to the Chinese New Year is the zodiac animals. A different animal is assigned to each year of the 12-year cycle, with each animal’s characteristics attributed to the year. In order, the animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
The Year of the Rabbit symbolises relaxation, calm, prosperity, reflection and hope. It is believed that people born in the year of the ox, tiger and snake will have good luck this year, while dogs, horses, goats, pigs may face misfortune. Many believe that this will be an unlucky year for rabbits too.
Origins and Details of the Chinese New Year Traditions
The modern Chinese New Year celebrations have a mythological origin that dates back thousands of years. The story goes that a mythical beast, Nian, would terrorise villagers and children every year during the Spring Festival. One year, an old man put up red paper and firecrackers to ward off the beast and it worked.
It was believed that Nian was scared of the colour red and loud noises, so since then, red and the firecrackers have been symbols of luck and protection. These elements were coupled with the annual Spring celebrations that were celebrated across China. The festival has evolved over the centuries, and at one point was banned during the Cultural Revolution.
It was deemed lawful again in 1980, and since then it has exploded in popularity across the world. It’s common to find festivities in many major cities and towns. Some common practices are to give children red envelopes of money, hang up calligraphy outside homes and eat foods such as spring rolls and dumplings.
There are also certain taboos that are meant to be avoided. These include not fighting, not cleaning, not visiting the wife’s family, and avoiding breaking ceramics or glass. Some Chinese people take these very seriously, and failure to abide by them is thought to bring misfortune.
Chinese Zodiacs List
The Chinese Zodiacs are an integral part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, and according to tradition, your animal will be a huge indicator of your yearly fortunes or misfortunes. Below, we’ve listed the next twelve zodiac years.
- 2023 – Rabbit
- 2024- Dragon
- 2025 – Snake
- 2026 – Horse
- 2027 – Goat
- 2028 – Monkey
- 2029 – Rooster
- 2030 – Dog
- 2031 – Pig
- 2032 – Rat
- 2033 – Ox
- 2034 – Tiger
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still have more questions about Chinese New Year 2023? If so, then keep reading to find fast and accurate answers to some common queries about this major event. If you’re still looking for easy-to-read discussions on a range of interesting topics, be sure to check out more of our online gambling articles.
When is the Chinese New Year in 2023?
The Chinese New Year is a 16-day event. It starts on January 21st with the New Years Eve celebrations and finishes on February 5th with the Lantern Festival. Over the period, there are many different traditions and activities that people follow. You’ll find a number of online slots that have Chinese New Year themes.
What do people do to celebrate Chinese New Year?
Traditionally, the Chinese New Year is a time for families. There are different activities held on each day, including a day where wives visit their in-laws, fathers-in-law visit their daughters’ husbands, people visit graves of ancestors and days of prayer and quiet reflection. Some less traditional people may celebrate at Macau casinos as the period has a strong focus on luck.
What are the lucky animals for 2023?
The year is expected to be lucky for people born in the year of the ox, tiger and snake. Generally, it is considered unlucky for people born in the year of the current zodiac year. There are many common superstitions and taboos that are considered during this period, and people will wear or display red for fortune.
