Chinese New Year
5 - 8 PM (CST) on January 21st, 2023
Great Hall, Coffman Memorial Union
What is Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year (CNY), also called the Spring Festival (春节), is a fifteen-day celebration that begins on the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar. Chinese New Year serves as a time to honor ancestors and deities while also allowing family reunions.
Chinese New Year officially begins on January 22nd this year (2023). This year will be the Year of the Rabbit.
Where is it Celebrated?
While originating in China, Chinese New Year is also celebrated all over the world in countries such as South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and the United States. It is also celebrated in many communities around Europe.
Locally, Minneapolis's Midtown Global Market often has a Chinese New Year celebration.
Significance
Chinese New Year marks the beginning of a new year. Filled with family, food, and firecrackers, the tradition brings many people together; over a billion people globally celebrate Chinese New Year each year.
Mythology
A monster known as Nian (年, a character also meaning year) once terrorized humans once a year. As many hide in the mountains and in forests to escape its wrath, people soon realized that Nian avoided homes with red scrolls and people in red clothing. Furthermore, the sounds of firecrackers scared the monster. After scaring off Nian, the villagers would celebrate with their families.
Traditionally, red couplet poems are put on doors to safeguard homes from demons and welcome good luck and happiness. To have good luck 'descend' on a family, traditional decorations often have the character Fu (福)—a character meaning good fortune—hung upside down.
Works Cited
“Lunar New Year Celebration.” Freer Gallery of Art & Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, 5 Jan.
2022, https://asia.si.edu/lunar-new-year-celebration/.
“Lunar New Year.” Center for International Affairs, Case Western Reserve University, 5 Oct. 2021,
https://case.edu/international/events/lunar-new-year.
“The Lunar New Year: Rituals and Legends: Asia for Educators: Columbia University.” Asia for Educators, Columbia
University, http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_general_lunar.htm.
Wurzburger, Andrea. “Everything to Know about Lunar New Year.” People Magazine, Meredith Corporation, 12 Feb.
2021, https://people.com/lifestyle/lunar-new-year-explainer-who-celebrates-traditions-and-more/.