Over here, we had to recover from the holidays and New Year's celebrations faster than light, and we've already put in several weeks of daily work, but the Chinese have only just started celebrating their New Year's on January 25. The holiday, also called the Spring Festival, is known for its over four thousand years old history. Exuberant celebrations usually run for fifteen days, and for many Chinese, the New Year is also the time to visit their family and loved ones. With each New Year, the Chinese celebrate the reign of one of twelve animals. After the reign of the Clay Pig, the Metal Rat gets the scepter this year.
The Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, is here! According to the traditional Chinese calendar, it is celebrated from January 25 to February 8. That means that if you already regret not having stuck to your resolutions for long and falling back into old patterns instead, here comes your second chance!
The most important holiday in the Chinese calendar is associated with many traditions and customs. Before the New Year celebrations, the Chinese clean their house very thoroughly and precisely, so that they could get rid of all their housework and other duties during the celebrations. They also place flowers around the house, primarily lotuses, which are considered a symbol of rebirth.
Just like here, they like to celebrate with plenty of good food on the table in China. There is a huge feast on the New Year's eve, with pig, duck or fish being served as the main course. And what kind of celebration would it be without pyrotechnics and dragon street parades? As they stroll down the streets, the celebrators can enjoy plenty of mostly red-colored Chinese lanterns hanging above their heads.
If you find a rat in your home, you're probably not going to jump for joy; the occurrence of this animal doesn't mean anything good where we live. But it's not the case in the Chinese zodiac. This animal represents wit, cleverness, energy and an aptitude to obtain the things it desires. According to the Chinese horoscope, you can expect positive prospects both at work and in love under the reign of the Rat. This tiny creature will end its reign in February 2021.
Although the celebrations are primarily a cause for joy, concerns about the outbreak of deadly coronavirus in China continue to increase. Millions of people are expected to travel by plane, train and bus to celebrate the lunar new year, increasing the risk of infection. The virus that broke out in December in downtown Wuhan has already killed several dozen people. When traveling to visit their relatives, the Chinese could cause the dangerous infection, for which scientists don't have any cure yet, to spread overseas.