On the night of December 31, the inhabitants of various countries of the world celebrated with pomp the most awaited holiday of the year - New Year's Eve. Beautiful memories, good wishes, positive emotions, and, of course, gifts - all made our holiday more beautiful, both small and large. Do you want to repeat them? No problem. Let's celebrate the New Year according to the Chinese calendar. Let's see it with Bemorepanda.

When is the New Year celebrated in China?

There is no fixed date when the transition between years is celebrated. It is calculated according to the Chinese calendar, and falls between January 21 and February 21. And according to tradition, the holiday does not last a day, but exactly 15.

How do the Chinese celebrate the New Year?

Asian countries - have always been mysterious and full of secrets. This is what has piqued the curiosity of people around the world about their culture and traditions. How is the New Year celebrated in China? According to legend, there was a monster named Nian (which translates from Chinese - "year"), with a large head and sharp horns. He lived in the depths of the sea, and on the first day of the year, he appeared in the nearby village, destroyed houses and ate people and animals. To defend themselves from the monster, on New Year's Eve people took refuge in the mountains, waiting in fear for the attack.

Everything went on like this, until an old man with white hair decided to face the monster. He glued all the doors of the houses with red paper, lit candles on the windows and dressed in red - thus scaring Nian. Since then, all New Year's Eve residents decorate their homes and yards in red, and Nian has never appeared. In addition to decorations and lanterns, every Chinese cleans his house on the moon, making room for happiness and luck. For the holiday meal, the Chinese prepare meat, fish and Chinese potstickers.

Like the rest, the Chinese are used to celebrating New Year's Eve in the family. Those who live abroad or in big cities, plan their vacation in advance to go home for the holidays, and to spend time with family and relatives. The passing of the years is marked by fireworks and firecrackers. According to the same legends, the sound of firecrackers and fireworks scares away evil spirits and the Nian monster. The Chinese also believe that the New Year should be celebrated with pomp, so that the next 364 days will be full of happiness, luck and money.

What gifts are given to the Chinese New Year?

What kind of holiday without gifts? The Chinese carefully choose New Year's gifts for their loved ones. At a time when the economy was poorly developed in China, the best gifts were considered clothes, food, but also quality drinks and tobacco. Some continue to give such gifts even today. However, the new generation is used to offering electronic devices as a gift: smartphones, gaming consoles, televisions and other state-of-the-art smart devices.

And as for the New Year's gifts for children - the tradition has remained unchanged. On New Year's Eve, parents give their little red envelopes ... with money. The color red symbolizes wealth and protects against evil spirits. It is also believed that such a gift will bring good luck and happiness for the whole year, to whom it is intended.