Chinese New

Year
By: Karla Contreras
What Is Chinese New Year ?
● Most important social and economic holiday in China
● A time to have families unite and honor household and heavenly dieties
and ancestors
● Marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar
● The fixed date was decided during the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) due
to Emperor Wudi commanded the use of the lunar calendar
● Has several names such as Yuanchen, Yuanri and Yuandan
How is it celebrated ?
New Year’s Eve Dinner: Two important dishes

In northern China are fish and dumplings (signify

prosperity); mostly at home instead of a restaurant

Fireworks: Drive away bad luck / evil

Red Packets: Money from 1- a few thousand Chinese Yuan

New Year Markets: clothing, fireworks, decorations, food and small arts
How is it celebrated ? (continued)
Small Year: The 23rd or 24th of the last month of the year the food god will
leave the family to report to the emperor of the heaven with the family’s
activity. Followed by a religious ceremony that will lead to them burning the
paint of the food god and after New Year’s Day buying new paint of the fod
god to display in the kitchen

Cleaning: Complete cleaning of the house to get rid of the old and welcome
the new year

Decoration: Decorate the house, mostly with red decorations. (upside down
du, dui lian, lanterns, year paint, papercutting, door gods)
Chinese New Year in Malaysia
The large festivities take place in kaula
Lumpur in which commercial areas are
decorated with lanterns, cherry
blossoms and oranges. There is an
estimated 30 million people taking part
in the celebrations. A popular gift is
pineapples because of the belief it can
bring good luck. There is an annual
calligraphy competition that welcomes
everyone to participate.
Chinese New Year 2017
It is the year of the Fire Rooster.
It is said to be a powerful year filled with making
impressions count and moving forward. Traits
such as loyalty, commitment, hard work, family
values and top-notch appearances will be
rewarded.