Chinese New Year Culture

农历

nong2li4 farmer’s calendar = lunar calendar

春运

chun1yun4 People returning home from spring festival to the “largest annual human migration in the world

腊八 

* Làbā
* 8th of 12th month
* 腊八节 signals the beginning of preparation for CNY

腊月日

* 腊月日
* 23 or 24th of 12th month
* Worship kitchen god
* clean house, shop and put up decorations

送灶神

* song4zao4shen2 （send to kitchen god)
* Kitchen god keeps track of what’s happening in the household


* People make offerings so the Kitchen god will make a positive report in heaven about the household

Where do the traditions of CNY come from

* Customs trace back to Chinese Legend


* In ancient times there was a monster named “年”
* He would harm everyone at the end of each lunar year
* People hung up red couplets because 年 hated the color red
* Setting off fireworks outside the door would scare the monster away

What do families do on New Year’s Eve

* Stay up late


* New Year’s Eve dinner
* Watch Spring Festival Gala

What is eaten in different places for CNY and why?

* Flour Noodles represent longevity
* In southern China people eat fish
* Fish sound similar to prosperity
* 鱼（yu2 fish) vs 余(yu2 excess)
* Eating fish symbolizes having an abundant and comfortable life
* 年年有余  Abundance year after year
* In northern China people it dumpling (饺子 jiao3zi)
* Shaped like a silver ingot (元包 yuan2bao3）which represents wealth and reunion
* Some people hid coins inside dumplings. Whoever gets the coin supposedly have good luck with money in the new year
* 年糕 - sticky rice cake sounds like getting higher every year

What is the Spring festival gala

* TV program broadcasted annually


* Largest audience of any entertainment show in the world
* More than 4 hours
* Longest TV show in the world

红包 hong2bao1

* Traditional adults put money in red envelope and give to children to wish them peace and good luck in the coming year


* Unmarried people are sometimes considered children


* Now, people give digital red envelopes

元宵节

* yuan2 xiao1 jie2 - Lantern Festival
* Celebration of CNY last until Lantern festival

How long is CNY celebrated for

15 days

年夜饭

* nian4ye2fan4 New Year’s Eve Dinner
* Also called “reunion dinner”
* People used to sit around round tables and eat around stove


* New Year’s Eve dinner was also called “around the stove”
* All family members must arrive before start eating
* Bowls and chopsticks must be placed for family member who can’t come

What is the origin story of dumplings 饺子

There was a small village that was being attacked by a monster so they could not celebrate CNY. A strong man named Nurhachi passed by the village and decided to kill the monster. To celebrate Nurhachi and CNY they wrapped the monsters meat and dough and made dumplings. When Nurhanchi became emperor, these dumplings became more famous.

孔明灯

* kong3ming2deng1 (Sky Lantern)
* Used as signals during War in 3 Kingdoms period
* Used to warn about robbers in Qing Dynasty
* Lantern Festival 
* 15th day of the first lunar month
* Make Kongming lanterns and write wishes for the year
* Hope the wishes will come true

春晚

* Chūnwǎn Spring Festival Gala
* Cultural evening every New Year’s Eve


* On-site viewing and broadcast on TV
* Various performances
* Starts at 8:00 pm and usually last until after midnight

When was the first Spring Festival

1983

How has the Spring Festival Gala changed over time

* With the modernization of TVs in homes more families have started to watch it


* Local TV stations have developed and hold their own Spring Festival Gala
* More local characteristics
* Content is richer and more enternating
* The Internet has made the Spring Festival Gala more diverse and entertaining

元宵节

### Yuánxiāo jié The Lantern Festival:

* 15th day of the first lunar month
* Last day of the spring festival
* Eat yuan xiao glutinous rice balls
* Symbolize family health, wealth, and reunion
* Look at and carry lanterns