February starts the Chinese New Year and the new year’s day is Feb 1st. Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, occurs sometime between January 21 and February 20 according to Western calendars.
Year 2022 is year of Tiger based on Chinese zodiacs.
According to legend, Tiger was confident that no one could compete with its speed and vigor for the race that would decide the order of the zodiacs. However, when Tiger climbed out of the river, thinking it was first, it was informed that Rat placed first for its cunning and Ox placed second for its diligence. This left the king of the jungle having to settle for third place.
Are you a Tiger? Tigers are courageous and active people who love a good challenge and adventure in life which really matches the image of runners. There are various ways to celebrate the new year but some of them are a must and food plays a big part of celebrations just like any festival in the east and west.
For Chinese New Year, the must have is dumplings. This food is with Chinese for over thousands of years and still a must have for new year’s day. The more dumplings you eat during the New Year celebrations, the more money you can make in the New Year. When I was young, my mom was always the first person to wake up during the new year’s day morning to make the dumpling for the whole family. Sometimes, she'd put several cleaned coins into the dumplings and
whoever found one is luckiest person of the whole year.
The most favorite event for the kids is collecting the Red packet. Red Envelopes with money are handed to the younger members of the family by the seniors. The money is wrapped in red packets in the hope of dispelling evil spirits from the kids. Usually, any single person can ask for a red packet from any married person, some people have a big family and can really make a fortune!
Another fun part is playing with Firecrackers. Firecracker can be considered as small sized firework. It can be fired by holding on hand or on the ground. When I was young, this was the best part of new year eve. Usually, I played with friends the whole night after the new year's eve dinner until the New Year's Day.
Several seconds before and after the New Year's Day, the noise of firing of firecrackers was so loud no one can hear each other and the firecracker fragments cover the ground like red carpet for several days. The thicker the fragments, means more luck for the new year to come. This tradition had been banned in the city because of fire hazard but I really miss those moments and it was a wonderful memory during my childhood.
There are so many things for the Chinese New Year and we can talk about it forever. I wish everyone the happiest and most joyful new year of 2022.
Finally, let’s learn the simplest way of saying Happy New Year in Chinese:
xin-nian-kuai-le which means exactly Happy New Year.
This is the Chinese written form: 新年快乐. 新年快乐 to all MVS and their families.
