Lunar New Year

As the New Moon makes its first appearance of the year in the dark skies, all around the world, families and communities reunite to celebrate the Lunar New Year. It marks the beginning of a new annual period, following, however, instead of the widely used Gregorian Calendar, the lunisolar one with the celestial bodies of the moon and the sun and all their phases and positions in the sky. Lanterns, incredible fireworks, and enchanting parades invade entire countries for one of the most important celebrations of the year, where ancient traditions and customs are honoured within the family. Festivities that have been passed down through the ages, from generation to generation, and that last 15 days, surrounded by loved ones, delicious food, and good fortune.

Called in many different ways based on culture and traditions, today we’ll be focusing on the Chinese New Year.

Legend has it that a long time ago in China, it was a mythical beast called Nian (whose name means, in fact, “year”) that started it all. On a fateful night just as the new year began, this terrifying creature emerged from the darkness of the wilderness and, for hunger, raided villages to feed on both people and animals. Its appearance is described to be monstrous, sometimes even bigger than an elephant, but all the variants of the myth state with certainty one thing—the Nian had a weakness.

Or better, three weaknesses.

The frightened villagers discovered that the beast was indeed afraid of three things: loud noises, fire, and the colour red. Therefore, with the upper hand, the people gathered and devised a plan against the great Nian. They began putting red lanterns and spring scrolls on their windows and doors, leaving food at their doorsteps, and hitting drums and plates. They began wearing red robes as well and lighting up as many fireworks as they could. And, eventually, they managed to intimidate the beast. The Nian fortunately never returned, but from then on it started the marvellous tradition of the Chinese New Year, also referred to as the Spring Festival. It symbolises the end of winter and the beginning of spring, and it usually falls between January and February. Nowadays, people even travel for miles and miles back to their roots and families to celebrate together this lunar festivity. It is a time to reflect on the past year, honour the time to come, spend moments together, and enjoy some exquisite homemade food. Some of these tasty dishes represent something to wish for in the following months as well. Like, for example, egg rolls because they signify wealth (for they look like bars of gold), or long noodles because they symbolise health for a long life, or shrimps that bring happiness because the word for ‘smile’ sounds very similar to ‘shrimp’, or obviously making and eating dumplings in company for longevity and wealth.

Of course, we cannot forget anything red—which is considered a very lucky colour—and the cherished tradition to give red envelopes full of money called Hongbao, gifted during the holidays or special occasions, usually from the elders of the family to the unmarried, children, and young ones. It is a gesture of good luck, blessing, and prosperity for the coming year; however, to receive an envelope—although it may vary from household to household—people usually need to offer New Year greetings, show respect, and give good wishes to the elders of the ménage as well.

The Lunar New Year is an extraordinary major celebration for lots of communities and countries. Customs may differ or be similar to one another, even for citizens of the same province. The most crucial thing, however, is that the Spring Festival is a time to be surrounded by dear ones and love.

This revered practice, though, does not end here. Each lunisolar year is in fact represented by an animal, which not only will tell how the forthcoming months will be, but it is also the zodiac sign under which all the newborns of that year will be born. They may be twelve, sharing the same number with the western ones, but these Chinese zodiacs are quite different. Each year is determined by a single creature, and this belief as well is shadowed in ancient myths and legends. It begins with Yudi, the Jade Emperor, ruler of the heavens, who, according to the tale, wanted to create a system to organise time. It is said that he decided to hold a great race to name each of the zodiac years and invited all the animals in the kingdom to participate. However, only the first twelve to make it across a grand river would have won the glorious honour to receive a year titled after them, beginning the zodiac calendar in the order they arrived.

And so, it started. The legend tells that the rat, although it was the smallest of the creatures, was the first to reach the crossing line thanks to its cunning little mind. Then came the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, and the dragon that could have flown over the river but stopped along the way to help the others. Then it was the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog (which played for a little bit in the water), and finally the pig, which marks the twelfth animal and the last one (for it’s said that it ate a snack and rested on the way). The race then came to an end, and thus started the Chinese zodiac calendar. Now, dear reader, you’ll probably say: “Doesn’t this mean that it only lasts a dozen of years?”

Well… yes and no. Not exactly. It’s a cycle that proceeds for 6 long decades. But let me explain better.

The animals are just twelve; however, this ancient chronology arises from the combination of two interlocking systems: the 10 Heavenly Stems and the 12 Earthly Branches.

The first one represents elemental energies, which correspond to the five elements in Chinese philosophy (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water). But since each element has a “yang” (positive) and “yin” (negative) aspect, there are 10 stems in total. The second one, instead, is tied to the 12 animals of the zodiac and also linked to a broader system of time, direction, and more. Combining stems and branches, therefore, we form a cycle where each is paired with the others in a sequence that creates unique combinations and that repeats every 60 years, thus creating a sexagenary cycle.

It may seem complicated, but really it’s just a form of associating and recurring, perpetually echoing through time. The twist of it all, however, is that, for how innocuous it could seem, this calendar affects marriages, births, major decisions, and even attitudes towards one another. It is believed that your animal year can influence your personality and behaviour and that certain creatures get along better with each other than with some others. I find it extremely captivating, trying to find out if I relate to mine at all.

But ultimately, when it is stated that one of the greatest honours of a parent is to have a child born under the sign of the Dragon, as a little dragon myself, it makes me awfully proud.

Rat: 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032

Ox: 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033

Tiger: 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034

Rabbit: 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035

Dragon: 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036

Snake: 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037

Horse: 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026

Goat: 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027

Monkey: 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028

Rooster: 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029

Dog: 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030

Pig: 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031