Lunar New Year - Welcome China
Over the past few weeks, we have received inquiries about Chinese New Year and its traditions. As the Chinese New Year 2020 quickly approaches, here are some fascinating details about this annual celebration.
Chinese New Year, also known as “Spring Festival” or “Lunar New Year,” is one of the most prominent and widely celebrated occasions in China. The new year usually occurs in late January or early February, as there is no set date based on the lunar calendar. The next Chinese New Year, known as “The Year of the Rat,” will begin on Jan. 25, 2020. The public holiday lasts from Jan. 24-30.
Below you will find a collection of Chinese New Year traditions and myths to help you better understand this momentous celebration.
Greetings
In Chinese, “Happy new year!” translates to “Xin nian kuai le!” Another popular greeting is “Gong xi fa cai,” which translates to “Congratulations and be prosperous.”
Red Envelopes
In honor of Chinese New Year, many elders will gift small amounts of money to children in red envelopes, a symbol of the passing of fortune to the younger generations. Co-workers, friends and other relatives will also partake in this practice as a sign of good will to start the new year.
With the increasing popularity of WeChat, many contacts will use the app to exchange these monetary gifts. Some even set up groups in WeChat in which members “fight” over the money. This is known as “qiang hong bao,” or “snatching red pockets” in English.
To learn more about the app and how you can promote your business to Chinese travelers, check out our WeChat page.
Chinese Zodiac for Welcome China and Ang's Chat
What’s Your Zodiac?
Your Chinese Zodiac animal sign, known as your “Ben ming nian” in Chinese, is determined by your birth year. The Zodiac operates on a 12-year cycle, making 12 signs in total, meaning yours should come once every 12 years. Check the chart below to see if 2020 lines up with your sign!
According to Chinese astrology, if your sign lines up with the year in question, you have offended Tai Sui, the God of Age. Tai Sui can bring misfortune throughout the year … but do not fret! If you align with the Year of the Rat, make sure to wear red, which is believed to drive away bad luck and evil spirits.
Happy Chinese New Year: Don’t Cut Your Hair!
A new hairstyle to start off a new year makes plenty of sense. Well, in China, most hair salons are closed throughout the Chinese New Year holiday. Why? Haircuts during the first lunar month of the year are believed to place a curse on maternal uncles. So, if you’d like to make sure that uncle has a great year, wait until Longtaitou Festival for a haircut or trim. Longtaitou translates to “the dragon lifts its head” and it falls on the second day of the second month of the lunar year. The dragon is believed to be the king of all creatures and ancestor of all humans in Chinese mythology and getting a hair cut during this awakening is believed to bring good luck for the rest of the year.
Celebrate Chinese New Year in DC
The nation's capital is rich with Chinese culture and there are numerous ways to celebrate the new lunar year. Over on washington.org, we’ve detailed events and activities that can help you ring in the Year of the Rat just right.
And with that, we wish all of you a prosperous new year!
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The Destination DC Welcome China Program is the bridge between you and the other side of the world. Contact [email protected] if you are interested in learning how you can capitalize on DC’s robust market of Chinese visitors.
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