Chinese New Year: Origins, Legends, and Traditions

Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and stands as the most grandiose traditional festival for the Chinese people. It is referred to as the Spring Festival, symbolizing the renewal of the year and celebrated with various customs such as paying respects to ancestors, welcoming the new year, and gathering with family.

Eve of the New Year:

The eve of the New Year, known as New Year's Eve, is the final night of the lunar year. The last day of the lunar year is termed "Yuan Chuxi," signifying the end of the old year and the ushering in of the new. "Chu" means to eliminate, and "xi" refers to night. Many people are likely on their way home for the festivities. Have you ever wondered about the origins and customs of the Chinese New Year? Let's explore together.

Legends Surrounding the Chinese New Year:

Legend One: Shun Succeeds as Tribal Leader

According to legend, over 2,000 years ago, Shun, the leader of an ancient tribal alliance, led his people in worshiping the heavens and the earth. Since then, this day has been regarded as the first day of the lunar calendar (New Year's Day). It is said to be the origin of the Chinese New Year, later known as the Spring Festival.

Legend Two: The Beast "Nian"

In ancient China, there was a fearsome beast called "Nian" that would appear at the end of winter, causing harm to humans and animals, and destroying fields. To combat this creature, clever and brave individuals devised a cunning plan. They set up piles of wood in the courtyards, placed tables outside their doors with offerings such as pig heads, cow heads, sheep heads, dog heads, and realgar wine. When the beast, Nian, saw these offerings, it would rush over, open its bloodthirsty mouth, hoping for a feast. People, upon seeing the beast, immediately ignited the woodpiles, beat drums, and set off fireworks, creating a spectacle of light and sound that frightened the beast away. Since then, every New Year's Eve, households put up red couplets, set off firecrackers, illuminate their homes with candles, and stay up to welcome the new year. Early in the morning on New Year's Day, people visit relatives and friends to offer congratulations and good wishes. This custom has spread far and wide, becoming the most grand and traditional festival in Chinese folk culture.

Legend Three: Praying for Good Wishes

The character "年" (nian) in Chinese, used during the New Year, conveys the wish for a prosperous and bountiful year. For thousands of years, people have referred to a good harvest as a "good year." They regard the first day of the lunar calendar as the "New Year's Day." On this day, drums beat loudly, and joyous celebrations take place everywhere. Later, people started to consider this day as the beginning of the year, becoming the grandest traditional festival for the Chinese nation and even the global Chinese community.

Origin of the Term "Spring Festival":

The term "年" (nian) dates back to the Zhou Dynasty and was officially fixed during the Western Han Dynasty. However, in ancient times, the first day of the lunar calendar was called "元旦" (yuandan), with "元" referring to the beginning. It was only after the victory of the Xinhai Revolution in modern China that the temporary government in Nanjing, to adapt to the agricultural seasons and facilitate statistical work, stipulated the use of the lunar calendar in the folk, while the Gregorian calendar was adopted in government offices, factories, schools, and organizations. January 1st of the Gregorian calendar was designated as New Year's Day, commonly known as the solar calendar New Year. The first day of the lunar calendar, typically falling around the time of the solar term "lichun," was established as the "Spring Festival" or the lunar calendar New Year.

On September 27, 1949, with the founding of the People's Republic of China, during the first plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, January 1st of the Gregorian calendar was officially designated as New Year's Day, commonly known as the solar calendar New Year. The first day of the lunar calendar, usually around the time of "lichun," was then defined as the "Spring Festival," known as the lunar calendar New Year.

During the traditional festival of the Spring Festival, the Han ethnic group and most ethnic minorities in China celebrate with various activities, predominantly centered around worshiping gods and ancestors, discarding the old and embracing the new, welcoming joy and fortune, and wishing for a prosperous year. The festivities are rich in diverse forms, showcasing the vibrant cultural characteristics of the Chinese nation.