Top 15 ‘Facts’ about Chinese Lunar New Year

As President Jacob Zuma sends warm New Year wishes to the Chinese community in South Africa, we’ve gathered together 15 (very interesting!) facts about this event and the Year of the Horse.

The South African President said “the horse is an auspicious symbol in China, heralding a year that looks forward to action, speed, achievement and the realising of goals.”

Noting that the relationship between South Africa and China has “grown from strength to strength”, he called on the South African Chinese community to work together with the government to achieve one of these goals – “increased job creation”.

15 Things You May Not Have Known about the Chinese New Year:

1. It’s not just a one-night thing. The festivities actually last 15-days.
2. The Chinese don’t call it Chinese New Year. They call it Spring Festival or Lunar New Year (because it depends on the moon).
3. So this year, the first day of the Chinese New Year is Friday 31 January because this is New Moon day in China’s time zone.
4. The last day (which is called Chinese Lantern Day) will therefore fall on Valentine’s Day – which is going to be a bumper romantic day this year if you’re in the USA, as the full moon will rise there on the 14th February.
5. It’s not just a Chinese celebration. People in Korea, Japan, Vietnam and a few other countries also observe the Lunar New Year. The main difference between the Chinese and Vietnamese calendars is that instead of the Ox, Rabbit and Sheep in the Chinese calendar, the Vietnamese have the Buffalo, Cat and Goat.
6. The year 2014 is the 4711th Chinese year (yup, just like the cologne, but not!)
7. 2014 is the Year of the Horse –  (some say the Year of the Wooden Horse to be specific). People born in the Year of the Horse – 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990 and 2002 – are smart, kind, popular and full of life. But sometimes they talk too much and love to be the centre of attention. Oprah was born in the Year of the Horse.
8. According to feng-shui experts this will not be the luckiest year and will be a year filled with chaos and “the economic bubble might burst“.
9. Red is the best colour to ward off misfortune and bad spirits and it’s recommended that people born in the Year of the Horse wear red underwear. Everyone should decorate their house with some red, and place an even number of mandarins (naartjies) in bowls around your house. (An uneven number would bring unhappiness.)
10. Setting off fireworks and firecrackers is also a good way to scare off evil spirits BUT since these happen to create even more pollution in an already very smoggy China, the government has pleaded with its people to keep it to a minimum this year.
11. According to tradition, you should totally spring-clean your house and pay off all your debts before New Year. But although there are a lot of superstitions during this period (like not showering on the first day, and visiting your inlaws on the second) – the main focus is to bond and have a good time with your family and friends.
12. Lunar New Year marks the “largest annual mass migration on earth” – larger than the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti. It’s like the whole country has a family reunion, and for many it’s their only holiday of the year.  According to Xinhua News, the Chinese government estimate there will be 3.62 billion journeys this year as people board trains, buses, planes and boats to spend the festivities with their families! And last year, almost 30 million people in Korea reportedly returned to their hometowns.
13. Returning home can be very stressful for all the single ladies who have to handle questions from older relatives about when they’re going to get a boyfriend. So, renting a boyfriend has become quite a popular business around this time!
14. As with all traditions, food plays a central role. The traditional family dinner includes un-cut noodles (for longevity) and fish and chicken (for prosperity). Sweet dishes are also popular, and in Korea they enjoy ‘duk gook’ which is a soup of thinly-sliced rice cakes. Conveniently in Kora everyone turns a year older at the start of each New Year (rather than on their birthday), so adults tend to tell children they can’t get older unless they eat some ‘duk gook’.
15. And lastly, don’t say misfortunate words like ‘broken’ or ‘illness’ during the Lunar New Year as this could bring a tad of bad luck. And make sure you have a full barrel of rice to ensure prosperity for the coming year!

Chinese New Year Celebrations in Sydney – Video

Here’s a taste of Chinese New Year Celebrations in Sydney. For the South African expats – the Twilight Parade will be held this year on 2nd February and culminate in a spectacular fireworks display over Darling Harbour: