In the Western countries, the two winter festivals during which the biggest celebrations are held are Christmas and New Year. In China, New Year, or Spring Festival, is one of the most important holidays as well, but unlike the Western one, it follows the lunar calendar. Itâs an ancient tradition deriving from a well-known legend. On the contrary, Christmas celebrations have been imported from the West and often Chinese people donât even know its origins, although youngsters love celebrating it. This piece further analyses the story and significance of the two most appreciated end-of-the-year festivals in the Middle Kingdom.
Christmas canât be defined as a traditional Chinese festival but, especially in recent years, it has gained more and more popularity across East Asia. In China, the culture of which lies in fusion, the celebration of Christmas has acquired Chinese characteristics. Some argue that the increasing fascination towards Christmas derives from the long temporal gap between the Mid-Autumn Festival and Chinese New Year: people are looking for a way to enjoy themselves. But there are mainly two reasons for the spread of this phenomenon: the ever growing size of the Christian community in the country, and the business opportunities in a globalised economy.
To be fair, even if the popularity of Christmas in the Middle Kingdom is relatively recent, the vast majority of toys and decorations production has been ÂŤmade in ChinaÂť for many more years: in 1999, nearly 80% of Christmas decorations imported in the USA were made in China. In 2002, this country produced and exported Christmas-related products in the whole world, the total value of which amounted to 1.5 billion dollars (Sigley, 2006).
According to the majority of young Chinese people, Christmas is a festival to be spent with friends. They enjoy shopping, parties, and Christmas dinners. Children are fascinated by the decorations and, of course, love presents. Many Millennials and Gen-Z even consider it as a sort of âValentineâs Dayâ to be spent with a romantic partner. Being an unofficial holiday, Christmas is free from obligations, such as travelling long distances to visit relatives, and instead is focused on personal pleasure. In fact, it is often defined as a âdemocratic festivalâ. According to a report from DiDi (a famous Chinese ride-hailing company), 25% of Shanghai users went to shopping centres, 18% went to bars and nightclubs, and 50% went to high-end entertainment places on Christmas Eve. On the contrary, Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, is a very traditional celebration and is heavily family-oriented.
Chinese New Year 2022âs celebration will take place from February 1st until the 16th. New Year falls on February 1st and the public holidays are from the 1st until the 7th. The New Year is determined by the lunar calendar and is the first day of a new moon after the winter solstice, explaining why the New Year is also called the Spring Festival, because the Chinese New Year marks the beginning of spring. Preparations for the new year begin on January 24th until the 31st. The year 2022 is the Chinese zodiac of the black water tiger.
Chinese New Year follows the legend of the mythical beast Nian, who shows up every New Yearâs Eve and must be scared away by setting off firecrackers and fireworks, putting red on the house doors, or using the art of calligraphy to write New Year greetings and wishes on red paper: for example, writing çŚ fĂş (blessing) on red paper and putting the writing upside down, meaning that the blessing falls on your head when you enter the house. During the period, the family is reunited, as well as friends and colleagues. This festival is known as the worldâs largest human migration: since it is the celebration where a meal must be shared with family, hundreds of million people travel within China, from the urban area where they work to their hometown village, to be reunited with several generations of family. Couples living in cities are reunited with their children living with their grandparents in the countryside during this festival. Being a national holiday, it is the most important festival for China (National Geographic).
Chinese New Year has traditions such as offering red envelopes, or 红ĺ hĂłng bÄo. The envelope is red as it is a lucky colour for China. According to legend, to keep children safe from the demon Sui, parents gave them coins to play with. As the legend goes: One New Yearâs Eve, a child was given eight coins to play with to keep him awake. The child wrapped the coins in red paper, opened the packet, rewrapped it, and reopened it until he was too tired to continue, and fell asleep. Then his parents placed the packet with eight coins under his pillow. When Sui tried to touch his head, the eight coins emitted a strong light and scared the demon away. The eight coins turned out to be eight fairies. From then on, giving red envelopes became a way to keep children safe and bring good luck. Those receiving an envelope are safe for the new year from the demon. Regardless of age, anyone can receive a red envelope. The tradition is to put new bills in the envelope and the person receiving it must hold it with both hands and shouldnât open it in front of the person that gave the envelope. With the development of WeChat or other social media, electronic red envelopes are more common. The lion and dragon dances are another tradition during the festival (China Highlights).
Seven lucky foods must be eating during Chinese New Year:
⢠Fish for prosperity
⢠Dumplings for wealth
⢠Spring rolls for wealth
⢠Good fortune fruit for fullness and wealth
⢠Sweet rice balls for family togetherness
⢠Longevity noodles for happiness and longevity
⢠Glutinous rice cake for a higher income/position
Lucky food must be served during the sixteen days of celebrations as preparation for a prosperous new year (China Highlights).
A schedule, known by all Chinese, is in action for the festival: the house must be cleaned and shopping must be done during the 23rd and 29th of the 12th lunar month (meaning before New Year Eve). On the 30th of the 12th lunar month (meaning New Yearâs Eve), homes are decorated, envelopes are offered, and a big family dinner is organised. On New Yearâs Day, fireworks and firecrackers are set off, and greetings are said to everyone. Between the second and the seventh day, relatives and friends are visited. On the fifteenth day, the Lantern Festival and the last day of the New Year celebrations, sweet dumplings are eaten, lanterns are prepared and more fireworks are set off (China Highlights).
Different greetings and wishes are said for the New Year (China Highlights):
The Chinese zodiac, or çč shÄngxiĂ o (meaning: âborn resembling'), is represented by 12 animals. In order, they are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each year in the repeating zodiac cycle of 12 years is represented by a zodiac animal, each with its own reputed attributes. Chinese people believe that a person's horoscope, personality, and love compatibility are closely associated with the personâs Chinese zodiac sign, determined by the personâs birth year (Chinese Highlights).
Different stories and legends describe why the twelve animals are in this order. But the common point between all stories is the notion of a race. All twelve animals are in a race and fight their way to become the first. The story of how the rat became first is common to all legends: the ox helped the rat by accepting him on his back and the rat jumped to the finish line, therefore arriving first. The tiger, being a solitary animal, won the race third. Legends give out different stories of the other animals. For example, in one version, the snake arrived before the horse by wriggling, the rooster made an alliance with the dog and the pig but since the pig is a greedy and hungry animal, the three animals arrived last, and so on.
Each zodiac sign is associate with one of the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water, known in Chinese as äşčĄ, wÇ xing, meaning âfive actionsâ. The five elements theory is used to describe interactions and relationships. The five elements are believed to be the fundamental elements of everything in the universe, between which interactions occur. Everybody belongs to one of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs and a 12-year cycle according to the year in which they were born. One of the five elements is associated with each of the Chinese zodiac signs and 12-year cycles. Chinese astrology asserts that personality and luck are determined by both zodiac sign (element) and 12-year cycle element, while life force (or qi) is determined by birth date and time. For the tiger, earth tiger birth years are: 1938, 1998, metal tiger birth years are: 1950, 2022, water tiger birth years are: 1962, 2022, wood tiger birth years are: 1974 and fire tiger birth years are : 1986. The symbols of yin and yang are also used in relation to zodiac signs, as well as the color of the animal. Even if a year is represented by a zodiac sign, each month is corresponded with a zodiac sign with an element and yin or yang sign. (Chinese Fortune Calendar)
According to Chinese astrology, people in their zodiac year are believed to offend Tai Sui, the God of Age, and incur his curse. Therefore, the curse will bring bad luck to the person in the zodiac year. Red is one of the luckiest colours in Chinese culture, standing for prosperity, loyalty, success, and happiness. Red can drive away bad luck and evil spirits. You can wear a red belt, red socks, red shoes, or red clothes, even a red underwear! However, there is a rule that you need to pay attention to, or the red won't ward off bad luck: the red item should be bought by a spouse, family member, or friend. If you donât have anything red, you can also wear jade accessories. Apart from wearing something red or in jade, you can face the opposite direction of Tai Sui. For the year 2022, the position of Tai Sui is Northeast (60 °). Therefore, you need to look in the opposite direction to attract good luck by for example adjusting the furniture in the house and at work (China Highlight).
With the ongoing global pandemic, the year of the tiger has different significations. The tiger contains Yang Wood, Yang Fire, and Yang Earth. Water Tiger means the water will surround the wood (a boat on the river or a sailing ship at sea). That is a sign of exploration, adventure, challenge, risk, caution, hope, and start-up. Tiger is the beginning cycle of the wood. Water Tiger will bring a new world to people. The Yin metal of the virus will step down from the stage. The tiger is connected to the growing tree. The World will focus on economic growth (Chinese Fortune Calendar).
The start of the pandemic can also be explained according to the zodiac signs: COVID-19 was discovered at the end of 2022, which is the earth pig year. Pig is in the water group. Winter is a wonderland for viruses to survive because of lower humidity and less sunlight. 2022 is the year of the yang-metal rat. Metal is connected to the lung or wind. The yang-metal of 2022 is connected to strong wind, dry air, or spreading. The rat of 2020 is connected to cold water or cold weather. The cool humidity and dry climate help coronavirus to spread globally. Therefore, we can say that the coronavirus grows in the water environment and spreads in the metal environment. The yang-metal of 2022 is triggered in April, during the yang-metal dragon month. The cycle of the yang-metal stopped in October, the month of the yang-fire dog. The major spread-out is from April to October by the wind power of the yang-metal. November is the pig month and December is the rat month: explaining how COVID-19 evolved and mutated to SARS-CoV-2 variants during the winter period.
2021 is the year of the yin-metal cow. While yang-metal is connected to strong wind, yin-metal is connected to slow flowing air current, dirty air, or viruses. The cycle of the yin-metal stopped in August, being the fire monkey month or in September being the fire chicken month. This is because metal is afraid of fire. But, September is the month of the chicken, and the cow have an attractive relationship with the chicken, so the virus will still be present. (Chinese Fortune Calendar).
The end of the global pandemic can as well be predicted with the zodiac signs: yin-metal will reactivate in the metal rat month of December 2022, or in metal cow month of January 2022. It will end in June of 2022 during the fire horse month or in July of 2022 with the fire sheep. By the summer of 2022, the virus should be gone. (Chinese Fortune Calendar).
The year of the black water tiger 2022 promises to be a year of transformations. This year is good for making plans for the next twenty years. Those born in the year of the tiger should look for improving their prospects by a change of job or self-employment. This change can be done in the first half of the year. Others will support the tigerâ actions. Expenses will soar, and saving money might become difficult. Tiger Business people should be wary of their staff who can damage the venture. If tigers want to enjoy the year, they have to be modest and diplomatic and not get into unnecessary fights over small matters. (SunSigns).
End of the year festivals are appreciated in China by following the Gregorian and lunar calendar. As Christmas was brought by the West, this festival is becoming more present in China with a fusion of the magic of a white Christmas and Chinese characteristics. Spring Festival, being a traditional festival in China, has a common point with Christmas of reuniting families. Both festivals make the end of the year celebrations in China valued and crucial to the traditions of the Middle Kingdom.
Valeria Medeghini
Prisca Mirchandani
The opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not represent the views of European Guanxi.
References
Li, Liping; Zhang, Gaoyuan, A reflection on âChristmas feverâ in China in the globalizing world, 2022, on International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 2.
Sigley, Gary, A Chinese Christmas Story, 2006.
Valeria's Chinese zodiac sign is the rabbit and Prisca's is the tiger.
You may find your zodiac sign depending on your birth year:
Whether itâs a day of rest, remembrance, giving thanks, or partying, everyone looks forward to the holidays. Not only do holidays breathe new life into our busy schedules, but they also remind us how wonderful it is to be alive.
1. Christmas
Christmas may be represented by presents and Santa Claus nowadays, but this popular holiday had another origin story. Depending on which culture you ask, Christmas could be related to many different things.
The most prevalent meaning of Christmas comes from the Christians who celebrate Jesusâ birthday. Whatâs interesting to know is that it took centuries after Christianity spread before Christmas became an accepted holiday. The reason why people were hesitant is because celebrating birthdays is viewed as a Pagan tradition.
Whatâs even more interesting is that historians canât find evidence of Jesusâ true birthday anywhere. Most experts agree that Christians borrowed the date from the ancient Roman holiday that celebrates the winter solstice. If this is true, then that means Christmas is also a day to be grateful that the darkest nights have passed and spring is coming.
If you happen to travel to Australia during Christmastime, donât be surprised if you spot Santa in a red bathing suit! Since the southern hemisphere experiences summer weather in December, Santa rocks a nice tan. With the weather being so pleasant, other southern countries spend Christmas enjoying barbecues and watching firework shows.
2. Hanukkah
Another popular winter holiday is Hanukkah, which is the Hebrew word for âdedication.â This celebration takes place over eight days. Its purpose is for Jewish people all around the world to celebrate their religion and history.
Unlike Christmas, Hanukkahâs origin story isnât as peaceful. Around 200 B.C., Israel was controlled by Syrians and Greeks. During one terrible event called the Maccabean Revolt, thousands of people were killed and Jerusalemâs holy Second Temple was destroyed.
Despite these horrors, heroes were able to rise and seek justice. Judah Maccabee, the son of a Jewish priest, rose to power and helped Israel reclaim Jerusalem within two years of fighting. In order to reclaim their culture, Judahâs priority was to restore the Second Temple to its original glory.
After the religious site was cleansed, the menorah was lit. The miraculous part of this story is that the menorah was said to only have enough oil to burn for one night, yet it continued to burn for eight nights. Ever since then, Jewish people have continued to light their menorah for eight nights during this religious celebration.
Aside from lighting the menorah and reciting prayers, Hanukkah has plenty of other interesting traditions. Children enjoy playing with dreidels, loved ones exchange Hanukkah cards and gifts, and lots of traditional Jewish foods are prepared. Some tasty treats include latkes (potato pancakes), sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and challah (braided bread).
3. New Year
Did you know that the first New Yearâs celebration was recorded over 4,000 years ago in ancient Babylon? Although the date of the new year has changed over the centuries, nowadays most cultures restart their calendar on January 1st. This means that people like to party on December 31st to celebrate their past successes and say goodbye to any hardships.
In earlier human history, the new year was tied to farming and religion. When life was most prosperous in spring, thatâs when many cultures felt like they had a fresh start. During their festivities, they would feast and exchange simple gifts with their neighbors to ensure the rest of their year could be merry.
In the modern world, our New Year parties have become even more fun. People all around the world send out New Yearâs Eve invitations for awesome parties, stock up on champagne and snacks, and dance the night away with their loved ones. No matter where you go in the world, youâre guaranteed to witness a countdown and firework show when the clock strikes midnight.
In many countries, like America, one tradition is to kiss someone at midnight. In London, Big Ben awakens to ring in the new year. If you visit Thailand, donât be surprised if you see people climbing in and out of coffins. In their culture, this is a way to ward off bad luck, pay their respects to the dead, and renew themselves.
Another common tradition around the world is to make a New Yearâs resolution. This is a way for people to set goals that will guarantee that the upcoming year is more successful than the last. Although most people give up on their resolutions by the end of January, people still love to be optimistic about the future.
4. Chinese New Year
Although this holiday may have Chinese in the name, the Chinese New Year is celebrated all across Asia and other Asian populations around the world. Their festivities are so charming that plenty of other people who donât have any heritage join in on the fun, too. The Chinese New Year doesnât have a set date since it follows the lunar calendar, but the celebrations usually take place in late January up until mid-February.
On top of ringing in a new year, this holiday also showcases the Chinese Zodiac signs. Each year is represented by a different animal. 2022 is the year of the pig, which is a symbol of wealth and good fortune.
There are many different ways people celebrate the Chinese New Year. One of the most common traditions is to set off firecrackers. Red is viewed as a lucky color, so you can see tons of red decorations and red Chinese New Year cards.
In busy streets, youâll see parades with lots of stunning displays and fun characters. This holiday is one of the most important celebrations in Asia, which means lots of people travel to enjoy a relaxing vacation or visit with loved ones. Since China is so populated, some travel experts believe that the Chinese New Year is the busiest travel date in the world.
You canât have a proper party without food. Traditional Chinese New Year foods have significant meanings that can influence the upcoming year. Dumplings and spring rolls are served to improve wealth, noodles can increase longevity, and sweet rice balls strengthen family bonds.
5. Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr
Although Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr are technically two separate holidays, you canât have one without the other. In Islamic cultures, Ramadan is known as a month of fasting and Eid al-Fitr is the festival of breaking the fast. These holidays help Muslims connect with their religion and their loved ones.
Ramadan begins during the ninth month of the Muslim calendar at the start of the new moon. Eid al-Fitr cannot start until the new moon of the following month, which signifies that a whole month of fasting has been completed. Ramadan typically falls in early May and Eid al-Fitr follows in early June.
Ramadan is observed by fasting when the sun begins to rise until sunset. This means that people have a short amount of time to eat. Although the practice is strenuous, fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Muslims believe that fasting is a way to atone for sins and deepen their connection to Allah. If people have the strength to abstain from food, it gives them the confidence that they can abstain from any harmful temptations in the future. Although children arenât required to fast, many young and old Muslims alike are excited for Ramadan because itâs a special holy month.
6. Easter
Easter is a day where Christians honor Jesusâ resurrection, which happened three days after his crucifixion according to the New Testament. Since there are different branches of Christianity, Easter can fall on any Sunday between March 22nd and May 8th depending on which calendar you follow. In both western and eastern Christianity, Easter is the conclusion of Lent, which is a 40-day fast.
Although the origin of Easter is based on religion, it has become more secular in modern times, similar to Christmas. While Santa Claus is the face of Christmas, Easter is represented by a character known as the Easter Bunny. Parents with young children traditionally leave an Easter gift basket and claim that their house was visited by the Easter Bunny.
Other fun traditions include dyeing Easter eggs, going on an Easter egg hunt, and exchanging Easter cards with tasty treats. Peeps and chocolate bunnies have become the most iconic Easter sweets in western cultures.
An Easter feast is also expected on this holy day. Many families across the world serve lamb in reference to Jesus being called the lamb of God. Other popular roasts include ham, turkey, and chicken.
Although there are a lot of fun activities that happen on Easter, religious families make time to visit church and pray. Since Jesusâ resurrection was a miracle, Easter is perhaps the most special Christian holiday of the year.
7. Valentineâs Day
Although we recognize Valentineâs Day as a holiday for lovers, the history of Valentineâs Day is much darker. Experts who have studied past centuries have noted that there were several saints named Valentine who could be responsible for the holidayâs title. However, these saints were neither romantic nor had happy life stories.
In ancient Rome, Christians were persecuted often and the violence could go as far as getting beheaded. Despite all of these saintsâ tragic endings, it wasnât until the 14th century when honoring St. Valentinus became romanticized. Chaucer, who was a poet famous for his many contributions to literature, made a connection between the holiday and birds mating.
After this observation became widespread, other notable figures like Shakespeare began associating the St. Valentinus feast with love. Letters of adoration were written, romantic gestures were planned, and February became known as the month of mating. Fast forward to modern times and youâll notice that Valentineâs Day has become quite an extravagant holiday.
Common Valentineâs Day traditions around the world include giving partners sweet Valentineâs Day cards, chocolates in heart-shaped boxes, jewelry, and cute stuffed animals. Romantic dates are also expected on this day. Some restaurants are so popular that people have to make reservations for Valentineâs Day months in advance!
Have you been shot by Cupidâs arrow? Whether you love or hate the commercialization of Valentineâs Day, this holiday is still the perfect time to remind your partner how much you care. If youâre single, that shouldnât stop you from having fun with your friends thanks to popular Valentineâs Day spoofs like Galentineâs Day.
8. Diwali
Diwali, the festival of lights, is a major Hindu holiday that pays homage to the gods and marks the beginning of a new year. Many Hindus call upon Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, by lighting an abundance of lamps. Not only do these lights welcome the goddess, but light is also a Hindu symbol of knowledge and everything good in the world.
The Diwali festival, which usually starts in late October, lasts for five fun days. During these celebrations, there are lots of feasts, exchanges of special Diwali cards and gifts, fireworks, and spending time with loved ones. Many people also believe that gambling will bring them good fortune for the rest of the year.
If youâre visiting India during Diwali, all of the regions celebrate different stories and gods. Northern India focuses on King Ramaâs victory over the demon Ravana. He defeated the powerful entity by lighting a row of lamps. This story is where the modern Diwali tradition of lighting lamps for good fortune came from.
In southern India, Hindus honor Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, and his victory over the demon Narakasura. Western India focuses on Vishnu, one of the three major Hindu gods. No matter where you go, all Hindus believe that Diwali is a joyous occasion that represents how good always triumphs evil.
Since Diwali is a happy time, most foods are sweet. Some treats you may eat include barfi (fudge), gulab jamun (doughnuts), and halwa (a dense confection). Other common foods include samosas (savory pastries filled with vegetables and spices), idli (rice cakes), and puri (flatbread).
9. Halloween
Although your country may not celebrate Halloween, cultures all around the world have tons of similar holidays that take place in the fall. The reason why is because humans have always been fascinated by death. Some holidays are spooky, lighthearted, heartfelt, or even a combination of the three.
If you live in America, Halloween is a crazy day where people dress up in costumes, binge on candy, and party like thereâs no tomorrow. The best Halloween parties are filled with creepy decorations, spooky music, frightening food and drinks, and strange games. This holiday is exciting for kids and adults alike because itâs a chance to become someone or something else and let loose. At night, you'll find many streets flooded with kids traveling from house to house as they hunt for the best treats in town.
Catholics all around the world celebrate All Saintsâ Day and All Soulâs Day, which are two consecutive days to honor the deceased. Graves are decorated with flowers, people go to church to pray, and many light candles in their windows.
Japanese people have also fallen in love with western Halloween traditions because each year they throw a Kawasaki Halloween Parade. During this event, more than 4,000 people take over the streets dressed in impressive costumes. This event is so popular that you have to apply two months in advance if you want to join the parade.
10. Bodhi Day
Bodhi Day is one of the most important Buddhist holidays because it commemorates Buddhaâs enlightenment under a Bodhi Tree. Since there are many different kinds of Buddhists across the world, there is no exact date for Bodhi Day. Depending on which region youâre located and which calendar youâre following, Bodhi Day is usually celebrated sometime between May and June.
The date of Bodhi Day relies on when Vesak approaches. Vesak is a holy combination of Buddhaâs birth, life, and death. If youâre a Theravada or Tibetan Buddhist, then youâll celebrate Bodhi Day in one day. If youâre a Mahayana Buddhist, Bodhi Day is spread across three days.
Buddhism is focused on meditation and following the path to enlightenment. It comes as no surprise that this holiday is a quiet, reflective one. Many Buddhists celebrate Bodhi day by meditating, reading, chanting, or performing acts of kindness.
More social Buddhists gather together to share tea, treats, and read Buddhist texts aloud. In Japan, Bodhi Day is known as Rohatsu and Buddhists celebrate the holy day by going on an intensive weeklong meditation retreat. No matter where you go, Bodhi Day is a representation of what Buddhists must do every day to stay on their path to nirvana.
Holidays Are a Time to Rejoice, Reflect, and Look Forward
No matter where you live, what you believe, or what traditions you follow, holidays are important. Not only are they fun, but theyâre also a reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty of life.
Whether youâre surrounding yourself with love on Valentineâs Day or giving thanks during a religious celebration, every holiday has a special meaning with valuable lessons to be learned. Remember, the best way to spend any holiday is within the warmth shared by your loved ones.