In 2024, Chinese New Year, one of the most anticipated and festive moments in the lunar calendar, will fall on February 10. This important holiday, also known as the Spring Festival, is a time when families not only from China but from around the world gather to celebrate traditions, make wishes and celebrate together.
The New Year in the Chinese calendar is closely linked to the cycle of twelve animal signs, and 2024 will belong to the Dragon.
The dragon has been an important part of Chinese symbolism for centuries, signifying power, wisdom and good fortune. In Chinese mythology, the dragon is considered one of the noblest beings. The element accompanying the patron saint of this year is, to the surprise of many, not fire, but wood. Therefore, you will often see the phrase year of the wooden dragon (the previous year, 2023, was referred to as the year of the water rabbit).
In Chinese folklore, dragons are often seen as guardians and protectors, bringing rain and fertility, which gives them a positive context in farming communities. The dragon in the local culture is not only present in mythology, but has also been shown to be an integral part of many aspects of daily life.
The dragon symbol is often present in Chinese stucco, architecture and martial arts. In their culture, this creature serves not only as a mythical celestial being, but also as an inspiration for everyday life.
Thus, from ancient stories to customs, the dragon in China remains a powerful and versatile symbol, conveying the deep values and beliefs of the doyen.
The Chinese New Year celebration is a colorful and joyous celebration that attracts the attention of not only the Chinese community, but also people from different cultures around the world. However, the festivities don’t just end on the day of the New Year itself. The main festivities, which last for several days, are followed by other fascinating events, creating a kind of procession of celebrations.
During the first few days of the Chinese New Year, the streets and squares of cities come alive with the colors and sounds of fireworks, whose bang is supposed to ward off evil. Traditional dragon dances and lion parades light up the sky with lanterns, and people dressed in traditional costumes participate in processions through the streets, carrying symbolic decorations.
The next stage is celebrated from the 9th – 15th day of the new year according to the lunar calendar, the so-called Day of Sacrifice. This is an occasion for prayers, making offerings to gods and ancestors, and eating special foods such as rice gruel and sweet dishes.
These intense days of celebration are followed by a period called the Lantern Festival, which lasts from the 15th to the 20th of the first month of the lunar calendar. During this time, cities in China and communities around the world illuminate lanterns of various shapes and colors, creating amazing light shows.
All in all, the celebration of Chinese New Year is a time not only of joyous festivities, but also of deep traditions and cultural rituals that pass on the important values of the Chinese people from generation to generation.
In Western culture, New Year’s Day is often marked by lavish parties, balls and spectacular fireworks displays at midnight. People celebrate the calendar change with friends and family, often with a glass of champagne in hand. Many people also set goals and resolutions for the coming year, focusing on new opportunities and challenges.
For that, Chinese New Year is a period full of colors, sounds and symbolism. Festivities begin with a roar of fireworks to ward off evil, and the streets are filled with dancing and parades of mythical creatures. Families wish each other well, exchange red envelopes of money, and tables are laden with traditional foods. In addition, the main festivities are followed by other days of celebration, such as the lavish and spectacular Lantern Festival.
Chinese and Western new year celebrations are celebrated equally lavishly. Both cultures begin the festivities with a roar of fireworks and have their own unique and colorful traditions that pair both tradition and modernity. However, there are two differences, the Chinese celebrate longer, and more family-oriented than the Europeans. Also worth noting is that the Chinese form of celebration is closer to the rituals surrounding Christmas than New Year’s Day.
In contrast to this short-lived but intense celebration in Europe, Chinese New Year celebrations extend over many days. Traditional celebrations span several days before the New Year itself and continue for weeks afterward. Such a long period of celebration is a chance for families to focus on unity, tradition and joyful celebration. Rituals including making wishes, preparing special foods, and participating in traditional parades bring all production and trade in the Asian region to a halt for the duration of the rites.
The beginning of the year in the lunar calendar means many difficulties, here is a list of the most important ones:
● Severely limited, or difficult, contact with Chinese contractors. Almost everyone spends the holidays with family, it is a time of rest from work.
● In order for imports from China to run smoothly, it is a good idea to plan the supply chain and order goods several months in advance to avoid confusion before Chinese New Year.
● For several weeks after the New Year, there are problems with raw material suppliers, which can affect the timing and quality of production.
● The cost of importing from China in all freight during the holiday season is much higher than normal.
Importers during this period should be mindful of these impediments in order to maintain smooth deliveries and a relatively trouble-free disposal of goods in the Western market during the first half of the new calendar year.
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