Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, the most significant festival in China, is now famous all over the world.  Although it’s famous, people in other countries only know a little about it.  And as a Chinese student, I believe that I have the duty to introduce the most important holiday to you.

Chinese New Years has been celebrated for thousands of year.  No one knows how or when it exactly started, but there was a tale about the origin of the New Year.  According to the tale, Chinese people celebrated this holiday because they defeated a cruel beast called Nian.  Nian came on the first day of Chinese New Year to hurt or eat people.  In the beginning, no one knew what to do with him.  So they just prepared good food for him and hoped he could stop hurting people after he ate the food.  Soon people noticed that Nian was afraid of red color and loud noise.  So they started to wear red clothes and fire firecrackers to frighten away the Nian.  Although Nian was frightened away, Chinese people were afraid that he would come back.  That’s why Chinese people wear red clothes and fire firecrackers during the Chinese New Year. 

Although Nian was frightened away, the activities from the tale remained.  People continued this tradition of cooking good food, wearing red clothes and making loud noise during Chinese New Year.  Most Chinese families prepare Chinese New Year by purchasing plenty of new things (such as clothes) and food, cleaning the house completely and decorating houses with Duilians(Red papers with poems and wishes) and lanterns.  People clean houses before holiday because everything in New Year should be clean and new; it’s improper to do cleaning during holiday.   During the New Year Eve, all the family members sit around the table and enjoy good food.  At about 12:00 Am, every family fires firecracker or firework.  On the first day of New Year, people go around and visit friends and relatives.  Everyone is saying “Happy New Year” or “Gong xi Gong xi”(Best wishes) Lucky money is my favorite activity. The older generation is supposed to give luck money to the younger generation. Chinese New Year’s activities are various, jubilant and full of laughter and happiness

The food during Chinese New Year is appetizing.  Hot pot, Jiao zi and fish are indispensable.  The Chinese hot pot has more than 1000 years history.  People set a simmering pot on the center of the dinning table.  They put raw ingredients such as beef, tofu or vegetables into the pot while they are eating. People usually only eat hot pot during Chinese New Year with family.  Jiao zi is a kind of Chinese dumpling.  In my family, all the members make dumplings together and eat dumplings together.  Fish is indispensable because its pronunciation.  The Chinese character “鱼”which means fish has the same pronunciation with the character “余”which means rich and abundant.  Eating fish during New Year means have abundant food and money next year.

Chinese New Year is a significant holiday for Chinese people.  The activities or food are all very meaningful and joyful.  It’s a huge part of Chinese culture.  Enjoy your Chinese New Year! 

“Gongxi Gongxi!!!”  ————KW