Chinese New Year is a major Chinese holiday that celebrates the beginning of the New Year in the Chinese calendar. It is also known as the Spring Festival, as it marks the end of the coldest and darkest days of winter and the beginning of the new growth cycle of spring. 

It is celebrated for 15 days, starting January 22nd, on the first day of the lunar calendar, and ending with the Lantern Festival. The first day of Chinese New Year is a national holiday in China, and many people have a day off work.

What are the origins of the Chinese New Year?

The holiday has a long and rich history, and its origins in Chinese New Year can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE). According to legend, the holiday began as a celebration of the defeat of a mythical creature called the Nian. The Nian would come out each year on the first day of the New Year and eat crops, livestock, and children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food out for the Nian and stay up all night to scare it away with loud noises. In modern times, it is a time for a family reunion, feasting, and gift-giving, and it is also a time when businesses start fresh for the new year. 

Why is Chinese New Year celebrated?

Chinese New Year is also a time for a fresh start and is the perfect time to launch a new product or collection. If you are looking for a creative way to celebrate Chinese New Year, consider a handcrafted leather product from our Cuadra artisans. By buying new things, you can help preserve traditional Chinese culture and celebrate the New Year meaningfully. Here are some new products you can find in our stores.

How is Chinese New Year celebrated today?

Today, Chinese New Year is celebrated with a two-week-long holiday. Families gather for large feasts, give gifts to each other, and set off fireworks. Red lanterns and scrolls with lucky sayings are hung in homes and businesses.

What does the future hold for Chinese New Year?

As China becomes more and more modern, the way Chinese New Year is celebrated is also changing. Many young people are now choosing to celebrate the holiday with their friends instead of their families. And while the traditional red and gold decorations are still popular, more and more people are adding a modern twist to their celebrations.

During Chinese New Year, people clean their houses, decorate their homes with red lanterns, and give each other gifts. On New Year's Eve, families gather together for a big feast. At midnight, they light firecrackers and thank the gods and goddesses for a good year.

The year of the rabbit

In Chinese astrology, the rabbit is the fourth sign of the zodiac. The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 animals, in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Every year corresponds to a different animal sign in this 12-year cycle. The rabbit is a symbol of prosperity, abundance, and fertility and is also present in various areas of world culture. You can surely remember chocolate bunny, easter bunny, Bugs Bunny of Warner Brothers, Alice in Wonderland, and many others.

In the Chinese five-element theory, each zodiac sign is associated with one of the five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth. This theory states that a person's characteristics are decided by their birth year's zodiac, animal sign, and element. Therefore, there are five types of rabbits, each with different traits:

Type of Rabbit

Personality

Wood Rabbit

Clever, astute, selfish, active in appearance, but shrewd at heart.

Fire Rabbit

Broad-minded, intelligent, and flexible, with unique views.

Earth Rabbit

Direct, straightforward, ambitious, hard-working, but slightly reserved.

Gold Rabbit

Kind-hearted, conservative, energetic, and enthusiastic.

Water Rabbit

Gentle, friendly, and able to adjust readily to different conditions, but with a weak mindset and principles.

Suppose you were born in 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, or 2023. In that case, you are a rabbit, as are Jeff Bezos, Lionel Messi, Gabriel García Márquez, Edith Piaf, Albert Einstein, or the recently deceased Pope. Benedict XVI.

People wear new clothes and visit their relatives on the first day of the Chinese New Year. The perfect occasion for gifting your relatives! Celebrate with Cuadra!

 

 

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