Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the most important Chinese holiday. Unlike the New Year observed by those that use the Gregorian Calendar, which is based on a solar calendar, the Chinese New Year is based on a traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar.

Who celebrates?

Many Asian cultures celebrate Chinese New Year including  China, Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Singapore.

How do people celebrate?

• Celebrations include fireworks, wearing special clothes, and hanging red lanterns
• It is tradition for families to thoroughly clean their house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck
• Another custom is the decoration of windows and doors with red paper-cuts and couplets

What should I know?

• Each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by an animal and 2022 is the year of the Tiger (Water Tiger)
• The festival was traditionally a time to honordeities as well as ancestors
• Parades and celebrations take place across the UK and can be a fun outing for all families

How can I support others?

• Ask your people if and how they will be celebrating Chinese New Year
• Don’t assume that because someone is of Asian ethnicity that they will be celebrating
• Talk to your team about the Chinese representation among your volunteer, employee and service user population and if it’s representative of your area

The Week: All you need to know about Chinese New Year: https://www.theweek.co.uk/57103/when-is-chinese-new-year-2020-and-how-is-it-celebrated

Metro: Chinese New Year 2022:

https://metro.co.uk/2021/02/12/when-is-chinese-new-year-2022-and-what-will-the-animal-be-14070283/

History Channel: The History of Chinese New Year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asluM20g6rk