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(Spanish CNN) - The Chinese New Year officially begins this February 1 and with it the longest and most important celebration of that calendar.A holiday that lasts 15 days and is the equivalent of combining Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.In 2022 we say goodbye to the year of the year of metal ox and we received the year of the water tiger.
Look: Photos |Thus they celebrated the New Year Lunar Millions of people in 2020
This is the third Chinese New Year that arrives under the shadow of the coronavirus.
For many Chinese who left their places of origin seeking job opportunities in large cities, this is the only opportunity to see their families this year.Parents who left their children in the villages to work can face another 12 months without them.
This year, the Chinese Ministry of Transportation waiting for 1.180 million trips during the travel season of the New Year Lunar, an increase of 35 % compared to last year, but still well below 3.000 million trips made in 2019 before the pandemic.And throughout China, a growing list of local authorities is deterring residents to travel to stop the spread of coronavirus, especially the highly transmissible omicron variant.
But, despite the pandemic, what exactly is the Chinese New Year?Here we explain everything you should know about this celebration that extends to many countries in Asia.
What is the Chinese New Year?
Actually, this is not its official name: in China, the festivities are known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year.Precisely, they begin with the second moon after the winter solstice, a date that can be range from the end of January to mid -February at the Gregorian calendar.
Nor is it celebrated a single day.Chinese New Year celebrations begin on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and extend for 15 days, when the full moon arrives.It is a time when families usually gather and go through long distances to get home to see their loved ones.A tradition that the Coronavirus has threatened for two consecutive years.In the case of many, this is the only opportunity of the year they have to return to their homes and bring gift bags.
Last year, Beijing's main train station was full of travelers before the Chinese New Year, because the authorities had not yet announced that the coronavirus was transmitted from person to person.Nor had it been admitted that it was spreading outside Wuhan, the initial epicenter of the outbreak.Two days before the New Year Lunar, this city was under a total confinement.However, millions of people in Beijing had already traveled to their places of origin before the holiday began.Which accelerated the propagation of the virus.
As it is celebrated?
Each of the 15 days that composes the celebration has its own traditions.On the eve of the Chinese New Year, for example, families meet for dinner together.There is also the habit of staying at home to receive good fortune or visit the in -laws.In addition, money is delivered in a red envelope, called "Hong Bao" to children and adults without a partner.In recent years, the gift has migrated to the digital.
The tradition of launching fireworks comes from the habit of turning on bamboo stems to move away evil spirits, such as the half dragon monster, half León "Nian", which according to the legend leaves her hiding place in the new year lunar to attack people.But his ears are his weakness, so in ancient time people set fire to bamboo stems to scare him.Over time this resulted in fireworks.
And the New Year Lunar ends with the flashlight festival, held at night with parades and display of flashlights decorated.The main event of this day is the dragon dance: beautiful dragons made of paper, silk and bamboo are sustained on the heads and seems to dance during the parade.
However, it is likely that much of the traditions will be carried out virtually - or even suspend - while the coronavirus pandemic continues.Because of this, some tourist sites offer free admission for those who are forced to pass the festivities away from their families.Also, companies launched tools for people to have a "lunar new year in the cloud", and provided everything from virtual markets to conference tools for online meeting dinners.
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Why is the year of the water tiger?
You may know about the 12 -year -old Chinese Zodiac calendar, represented by 12 different animals.But, in reality, it is much more complicated.One year not only is classified by your Zodiac animal.There is also a complex sexagenarian cycle: a combination of one of the 10 celestial stems and one of the 12 terrestrial branches.
In this cycle the sign is the tiger and the element is water.
This February 1 starts 4720 at the Chinese calendar.
The year of the tiger symbolizes strength, vitality and fortune.Holidays are a moment of renewal, family gatherings, eating rich foods and wishing good luck.
What superstitions characterize the Chinese New Year?
The first thing is not to get the garbage.The reason?It is said that you delete luck and prosperity.You also enjoy time with your family, especially your in -laws and relatives of your partner, during the second day, which is considered the beginning of the year.
The third day, on the contrary, it is better not to visit anyone.It is a day prone to discussions, according to tradition.For the seventh you can celebrate.
And red is the color that can never be missing: it is associated with luck and prosperity, but it is mainly used for protection purposes.(The "Nian" monster also scares the color red).
Is the largest migration in the world in the Chinese New Year?
Yes, before COVID-19 pauses the vast majority of trips worldwide, that of the Chinese New Year.In 2020, 3 were expected.000 million trips during "Chunyun", the busy 40 -day season in China, which starts weeks before the lunar new year.Chinese do whatever necessary to see their loved ones.
Why do Chinese years identify with animals?
The Chinese legend tells that Buddha summoned all the animals to meet him during the New Year's Day and appointed the years with the 12 animals that came.So the animals in the Chinese calendar are the dog, the pig, the rat, the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the sheep, the monkey and the rooster.Tradition also says that people born in each animal year have some personality trait of that animal.
With information from Nectar Gan, Lily Lee, Maggie Hiufu Wong and David Culver, all of CNN.
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