Today is Chinese New Year — a day that we always celebrate in our house. Every year I discuss some aspects of Chinese New Year here, so if you’re interested, you can check the archives for previous year entries.
Chinese New Year can fall any time between January 21 and February 21 — it falls on the second new Moon after the winter solstice. In 2022, that’s today, February 1. The new year marks the transition between zodiac signs. Last year (2021) was the year of the Ox — this year (2022) is the year of the Tiger. I’m very excited because I was born in the year of the Tiger, so I figure this must be my year — except for the dreaded Ben Ming Nian.
The Chinese New Year is often referred to as the Lunar New Year and it’s actually a 15 day festival marking the start of a new year. The celebrations start with the Little Year, during which the preparations for the new year begin. This is a span of eight days, which fall between January 24 and January 31 this year. Next is the Spring Festival, which lasts for 11 days, from February 1 through February 11, and finally, the Lantern Festival, which is four days between February 12 and February 15. Even though many in China keep up with all the traditions for the duration of the Chinese New Year, only the first seven days — starting (this year) with New Year’s Eve on January 31 are considered a public holiday.
As I mentioned, the Chinese New Year doesn’t follow the Gregorian calendar but uses the lunisolar Chinese calendar, which is based for the most part on the movement of the Moon. Just like the Gregorian calendar, days begin and end at midnight — but in a lunisolar calendar, the months start on the second or third new Moon after the winter solstice.
While most people in China and elsewhere in Asia use the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese calendar is an important part of Asian culture that determines many of the region’s largest holidays and other important events.People often use the Chinese calendar to pick dates for weddings, funerals, starting a business, moving to a new home, etc.
Each year of the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs — the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig, in that order. Then they start over.
I mentioned that I was born in the year of the Tiger. It seems like being born during the year of the current animal year should be lucky, but the opposite is actually true. In Chinese astrology, the year that lines up with your zodiac sign is your Ben Ming Nian, a term that refers to a person’s zodiac being the same as the current year’s zodiac. Chinese astrology says that when it is your sign’s Ben Ming Nian, it will be your year of Fan Tai Sui.”Fan Tai Sui” means that you are offending Tai Sui, who is the guardian god for the year. This all boils down to a way of saying beware — there may be bad luck ahead. But luckily, for us Tigers, Chinese mythology has a few remedies to help ward off bad luck, like:
Praying to the Tai Sui early in the year for protection and peace.
Wearing an ornament or piece of jewelry to protect against the effects of Tai Sui.
Befriending people who are favored by the current year’s reigning Tai Sui — for 2022, that would be people under the Pig zodiac sign.
Doing good deeds and behaving with love and kindness, especially to elders and the needy, which helps gain the favor of the Tai Sui.
Worshiping the Tai Sui, often by setting up a shrine in your home to make offerings to both the god and the year’s zodiac animal.
Wearing red, which is said to help improve your fortunes and ward off Fan Tai Sui since it is considered a joyous and auspicious color.
So just to be safe, I’m going to follow all these remedies in 2022 — especially being nice to Pig people.
Even though Chinese New Year has lot of superstitions and traditions associated with it, some of them make good sense for all of us…. here’s some you may find useful.
Housecleaning should be done before the Chinese New Year’s Day to sweep away bad luck from the previous year. No sweeping or dusting is allowed on New Year’s Day so that good fortune will not be swept away.
Precedents are set on New Year’s Day. Nothing should be loaned on this day, or else the lender will be loaning all year. Mischievous children are never spanked on this day to avoid tears destined to last the whole year through.
Do not use references to death or the past, or use foul language and unlucky words, or the telling of ghost stories — all those are taboo on New Year’s Day.
Hair washing is forbidden. Leave your hair as it is on the first day of the New Year. The Chinese character for hair is the same first character in the word prosper. This means washing your hair is seen as washing your fortune away and dramatically reduces your chances for prosperity and good fortune in the year.
The New Year celebration is a time to worship ancestors, exorcise evil spirits and pray for a good harvest. Basically the celebration is centered around removing the bad and old, and welcoming the new and the good. Happy New Year to all…..
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