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Gung Hay Fat Choy?
Torontoist loves holidays, especially in February when the only other holiday in sight involves disgusting cinnamon hearts and avoiding lovy-dovy couples.
Thank goodness for Chinese New Year, which starts tonight and runs for two weeks. But for those not familiar with the holiday, Chinese New Year can be a confusing time. That’s why Torontoist’s very own Boy Reporter will try to answer some questions about the holiday.
Last year Chinese New Year was in January? What gives?
Chinese New Year, or the Lunar New Year, is based on the number of times the moon orbits the Earth in one year. Tonight happens to be the first new moon of this Chinese calendar year (it’s the year 4703 if you were wondering). The Western or Gregorian Calendar doesn’t follow the cycles of the moon which is why the date for Chinese New Year varies from year to year.
Right, but what’s with all these animals? Roosters, and snakes and even dragons?
The Chinese Zodiac, like the western zodiac, is based on a cycle of 12. Unlike the western zodiac though, each animal represents a year. To complicate things a little more, in Chinese astrology each animal/year is also matched up to one of the ‘five’ elements that make up the world: metal, wood, fire, earth and water. 2005 is the year of the wood rooster if you were wondering.
I’m with you so far. So what actually happens during Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year actually runs for two weeks and is also known as the spring festival. Although it still doesn’t look like spring here in Toronto there’s no reason why you can’t get into the spirit. Traditionally, the Chinese clean their homes before the New Year and cleaning is absolutely forbidden the first day of the year because it might sweep away some of the good luck. The more superstitious believe that washing hair, using knives and scissors are also bad luck because they might get rid of your luck for the rest of the year.
Throughout the festival, families and friends give each other gifts, usually in the form of fruit (oranges are popular) flowers or candy. Children receive red packets usually filled with cash from their parents and other relatives. There are lion dancers, firecrackers, services at Chinese temples. And it wouldn’t be a Chinese holiday without a huge meal.
There’s an awful lot of red everywhere, why is that?
Red and gold are believed to bring good luck. Which is why during Chinese New Year almost everything you’re giving or receiving will be red. Red, in particular, represents happiness and prosperity, and who wouldn’t want both of these for the new year?
So where’s the best place to experience all this?
Chinatown is the obvious place. But Pacific Mall, out in Markham, is staying open to midnight tonight to ring in the New Year. Chinese temples around town will be very busy tonight and for the first couple days of Chinese New Year.
I’m also hearing about Korean and Vietnamese New Years, what’s going on?
At the height of their power the Chinese got around. They even exported their language and culture to pretty much every country in East Asia. Countries like Korea, Vietnam and Japan used the Chinese language to run their bureaucracies and kingdoms, some of them even adopted Chinese cultural practices like their calendars. Chinese New Year, it seems, just isn’t for the Chinese.
Photo courtesy of the City of Toronto