The Chinese New Year is here! Also known as the Lunar New Year or The Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year is the most important holiday celebrated in China, some surrounding countries and in Chinese communities throughout the world. In China, commerce grinds to a halt as businesses close to make way for celebrations that often last for weeks.
According to one popular myth, the celebrations began millennia ago, in response to a monster called Nian, who terrorized villages and gorged itself on precious grain, livestock and even people! Wise citizens found out that Nian feared loud noises, bright lights and the color red - hence the origin of many of the traditions and festivities celebrated today.
Chinese New Year celebrations in China are nothing short of legendary, with nights so full of fireworks and feasting that Western New Years festivities pale in comparison. One can get a taste by attending street celebrations in Chinatown, Manhattan, where (in non-pandemic times) local groups put on exciting performances. Long lion puppets, manned by multiple people dance above the streets and eat vegetables dangled from fire escapes and balconies only to spit them back out in a tradition that bestows luck and prosperity. Martial arts schools perform demonstrations in the streets, and music and drumming abound. Restaurants are overflowing with delicacies, such as the ginger and garlic lobster from Big Wong on Mott Street - an auspicious and delicious meal to bring in the new year.
Chinese Zodiac - Year of the Tiger
The Chinese Zodiac, or shengxiao, cycles through 12 animals. Various legends exist to explain the order of the animals, but most are some version of the following: Thousands of years ago, the Jade Emperor staged a race to select animals for his palace guard. The Tiger, who’s year we are entering, was the third to finish the race, after the steady, dependable Ox, and the sneaky Rat, who hid in the Ox’s ear, only to jump out at the last second and claim first place.
People born in tiger years are competitive, brave, confident and often stubborn. They are often gregarious and well liked, but they run the risk of being combative, quick to anger and grating to others. Previous years of the Tiger are 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926…
In addition to the 12 year cycle of animals, each year has a corresponding element. 2022 is a water tiger year, which is a bit of a contradiction. Water types are usually introspective and empathetic, prone more to avoiding conflict than courting it. The conflict between empathy and competition, aggression and passivity are hallmarks of people born in the year of the water tiger. The last water tiger year was 1962, a full six decades ago.