Is the Chinese New Year always February 16? How do we know which animal will represent the new year? And how did I get a jump-start on celebrating it here at Laurentian? All these questions will be answered in this post! :)
History of Chinese New Year
First of all, the Chinese New Year does NOT take place on February 16 every year. The new year is based on the lunar calendar instead of the solar one, meaning a calendar based on the cycles of the moon instead of the sun.* Because of this, the new year can take place anywhere from January 21 to February 20, depending on when there is a new moon.
*The Chinese New Year is also called the Lunar New Year.
The new year celebrations last for 15 days, and a prominent decoration color is red since red symbolizes good luck in China. One common decoration are fai chun, or red paper containing phrases of good luck and prosperity that are hung in doorways.
Images courtesy Kitakutikula - Deviant Art
Last night, the Laurentian University Chinese Student and Scholar Association hosted a Chinese New Year Gala with the theme "New Year, New Chapter." The event was essentially a talent show, with students taking the stage to perform songs, dance routines, and even calligraphy! Between every few acts, there was a break for games involving the audience, and during the trivia game, I won this cute little ceramic dolphin pair!! (I confess, my friend in the picture gave me the answer, claiming, "They won't pick me, but they will pick you since you're international!")
I will post again soon!