Experienced buyers know that every February is a difficult time to order goods from China. In February, the Chinese celebrate Chinese New Year. The whole country actually rests for 2-3 weeks. At this time, the overwhelming majority of private and public organizations rise.
Formally, online stores (Aliexpress, Taobao, Dealextreme, etc.) are working, but the orders will be shipped after the holidays. The main thing is that China Post does not work either.
The celebration of the Chinese New Year is not tied to any specific date, but to a natural phenomenon - the second new moon after the winter solstice. This happens between February 12th and 19th. Each year is a different date.
When does Chinese New Year 2015 start
In 2015, the Chinese New Year will start on February 19. Officially, the new year lasts until February 24. In fact, most begin resting a week in advance. And after the end, everything does not return to normal immediately. In fact, 2-3 weeks in China during this period does not work.
If your package does not leave China before the holidays, it will also get stuck in China. By and large, all orders made in February will leave the Chinese customs only at the end of the month. Therefore, there is no sense in rushing to place an order right now.
If you have not yet made an order for Aliexpress, Taobao, etc. so far, then you should postpone it until the first days of March, when everyone will finally leave after the Chinese New Year.
Chinese New Year on Aliexpress
When ordering goods on Aliexpress, please note that it will be possible to place an order on Aliexpress throughout the Chinese New Year. You can pay for it. But all terms on Aliexpress are indicated not in calendar, but in WORKING days. Accordingly, all terms will be extended by the duration of the Chinese New Year. No need to worry and swear at the seller. Little depends on him.
When will Chinese New Year 2015 end?
The Chinese New Year will officially end on February 24, 2015. In fact, the parcels will start moving a week later, and in some cases two weeks after this period. At the post office, in factories during this period there will be complete confusion. You just have to relax and just wait.
New Year is a holiday known all over the world. They meet him, as a rule, on the night of January 1. But Chinese New Year is celebrated a little later. Moreover, at absolutely different times.
When Chinese New Year comes
So what about the date? Chinese New Year 2015 is celebrated on February 19th. But still, not everything is so simple. This is the Lunar Chinese New Year. That is, the calendar. Astrological New Year in China begins with the beginning of spring. The awakening of nature speaks volumes. Spring in 2015 in China comes on February 4th. On this day (a little earlier than the ordinary Chinese calendar), the New Year will come. The wood goat, of course, confuses people who are interested in "Chinese literacy" in the dates of their arrival a little. However, this is the East. Here the dates are determined by both the lunar and solar calendar. Astrology (i.e. the Sun) is used, for example, by those who practice feng shui.
Some facts
In order to understand the celebration of this solemn event, it is necessary, first of all, to learn something about its history. Several hundred years ago, China was mostly a cluster of rural communities. Accordingly, the Dynasty was forced to update a special calendar for farmers every year. It consisted not only of the solar and lunar calendar, but also of the weather calendar. This information was essential in order to know how to plant a variety of plants, seeds, when to harvest, and when to celebrate the holidays. As a result, Chinese New Year has always been associated with farming. On this day, men celebrated their achievements over the past twelve months.
The most popular holiday in China
The arrival of the New Year is a bright and cheerful event. He is eagerly and impatiently awaited in all countries. New Year in China is no exception! January 1 here, as well as in many Christian countries, of course, is celebrated. However, with the arrival of the new moon, the Chinese celebrate this event again. The Chinese New Year has another name - Chunjie. Translated, it means "Spring Festival".
Symbol and element are determined every year
Every year, the celebration in China is celebrated in completely different ways. Much depends on the symbol, element and color. For example, Chinese New Year 2014 was celebrated under the sign of the Horse. His element was the Tree. The main colors were blue and cyan. Accordingly, a wooden horse painted in one of these colors must have stood on the festive table.
Chinese New Year 2015 is the year of the Wood Goat. It is this animal that will have to be honored. The goat symbolizes household, warmth, motherhood. It is preferable to celebrate the New Year at home. How to celebrate? It would seem an ordinary holiday ... But here, too, there are some nuances. Celebrate New Year in China for 15 days. Each of them has its own meaning, depending on local traditions. Therefore, people go out to public festivities. The holiday ends on the 15th day with the Lantern Festival.
Traditions
A lot of various rituals and superstitions are associated with the celebration of this holiday. For example, five long strips of paper must be hung over the door. They symbolize good luck, longevity, honor, joy and wealth.
According to ancient traditions, the New Year in Chinese must be greeted with noise and hubbub. People blow up firecrackers, light fireworks. All this is done in order to prevent the settlement of evil spirits in the house, expelled from different places on the eve of the New Year.
There is another belief. The evil forces are supposedly afraid of everything red. Therefore, before the New Year, it is necessary to glue scarlet paper strips on a wide variety of objects.
In big cities, many ancient rituals, of course, have become a thing of the past. However, they are still found in rural areas. During the 2014 Chinese New Year, for example, many provincials covered their windows and doors with paper. This is considered another way of protecting against the dark forces.
All household chores must be completed by the New Year. Cleaning begins from the threshold, and ends in the very center of the house. By the evening of a festive day, it is necessary to remove all rags, buckets, brushes, brooms, etc. in places invisible to the eye.
In China, it is not a Christmas tree that is decorated for the New Year, but the Tree of Light. Flowers, garlands, various lanterns are hung on it. New Year's Eve dinner is also important. This evening the whole family gathers at the table. If one of its members is absent, free places are still provided for them. A festive meal is not complete without tofu, fish and chicken. In Chinese, the names of these products are consonant with the words "wealth" and "happiness." In the north of China, dumplings are sure to be eaten on New Year's, and in the south, rice slices. The festive dinner ends with the distribution of money. They are put in red envelopes.
It is necessary to celebrate the New Year without any debts. On the eve of Chinese New Year, place small vases of tangerines throughout the house. This symbol is the personification of prosperity and wealth. The house is also decorated with apricot or peach flowers. This symbolizes new beginnings. For Chinese New Year, people always wear new outfits. This is done in order not to transfer their problems from the outgoing year to the coming year. In addition, you need to be courteous and respectful to all the people around you. All spoken words should symbolize only happiness and joy.
A rich table is the key to prosperity
A few words have already been said about the festive table. New Chinese 2014, the photo of the celebration of which speaks volumes, has allowed many people in China to live the coming months in happiness and prosperity. A successful life went to those who took good care of the New Year's table. For example, rice is a symbol of wealth, noodles are a symbol of longevity, and fish is a symbol of a happy family. In addition, a variety of salads, fruits, seafood and sweets must be present on the table.
What to give to loved ones
What present to present to your friends and family? Even in ancient times, a tradition appeared in China - to give the owners of the house two tangerines each. Why is that? It is believed that this ceremony appeared due to the fact that the "pair of tangerines" in Chinese is consonant with the word "gold".
Accordingly, everything is extremely simple. A photo of the Chinese New Year suggests that in this country it is generally customary to present paired gifts. Such things symbolize family harmony. It can be two mugs, two dishes, etc. The most important thing is not to give watches to elderly people, and baby things to those who have not had babies. It is customary to give gifts to the owners of the house just before leaving. Some people leave them in secret altogether.
Traditional dances
Now, mind you! Traditional dance is the best gift for a Chinese citizen! In every city on this holiday, festivals are organized where you can watch this magnificent action.
Traditional dances of dragons and lions are necessarily performed at festive performances. What it is? Lions symbolize protection from troubles and misfortunes in the New Year. Their dance has been known in China since the 14th century. The dragon dance has been known even longer - since the XII century. Its execution requires paper, wire and willow rods. These materials are used to make a dragon, which can be up to 10 meters long. The body of the monster consists of an odd number of parts, each of which is controlled by a dancer using a pole.
In short, this holiday has many traditions and customs. All of them are shrouded in some kind of mystery and mystery. The Chinese New Year allows you to plunge into a fairy tale, feel like a mystical hero, and feel a lot of positive emotions! There is no doubt that people celebrating this wonderful celebration will surely enjoy it to the fullest, remain in complete delight! The mythical dragon, fabulous lions and all other tales of China - all this is closely intertwined in the bright celebration of the New Year!
2020 is not just a beautiful combination of numbers, but also the beginning of a new 12-year cycle according to the Eastern calendar. It will be opened by the Metal Rat, taking over from the Yellow Pig. Chinese New Year 2020 will be celebrated in a special way because it is a very symbolic period for the people of Asian countries. How is this holiday celebrated in China? How different are their traditions from ours?
Chinese New Year will come according to the calendar familiar to Russians January 25, 2020!
Features of the eastern calendar
We are already used to asking people not only for their zodiac sign, but also in the year they were born. Although not everyone willingly answers the second question, because it is so easy to determine the age. Indeed, there are 12 characters in the Chinese calendar, which are cyclically repeated, gradually replacing each other:
- Rat.
- Tiger.
- Rabbit.
- The Dragon.
- Snake.
- Horse.
- Goat.
- A monkey.
- Rooster.
- Dog.
- Pig.
The sequence is due to the legend that all these animals came to the dying Buddha to say goodbye. And then the spiritual master allowed everyone to rule for a year.
In addition to animals, each year according to the Chinese calendar corresponds to a certain element (metal, water, wood, fire, earth) and color (white, black, blue, red, yellow). Thus, the full cycle is 60 years.
The last time the White Metal Rat dominated was in 1960.
In between, the Rat was symbolized four more times:
- 1972 - Patron: Black Water Rat
- 1984 - Patron: Blue Wood Rat;
- 1996 - patron saint: Red Fire Rat;
- 2008 - Patron: Yellow Earth Rat.
Color is considered an important parameter, so the Chinese prefer to celebrate the New Year in clothes of the appropriate shade and decorate the house in such colors. This tradition has been partially carried over to Russia. Many of us also adhere to this rule.
When is Chinese New Year in 2020?
In Russia, the coming of the New Year is associated with the Gregorian calendar and is marked by the arrival of January 1. In China, however, the date is tied to the moon, so the holiday is timed to coincide with the winter solstice and is celebrated on the second new moon. Depending on the lunar cycle, this day can occur between January 21 and February 21. And in 2020, the Chinese New Year will begin on January 25th. From this moment, the rights of the Pig will end, and the Rat will begin to manage.
Curious! The year 2020 in the Gregorian calendar corresponds to the year 4718 in the East.
Officially, people are given 7 days to celebrate the Chinese New Year (plus or minus a couple of days off). But the Chinese love this holiday so much that they rest for 2-3 weeks. This is problematic for China's partner countries, which in January-February are forced to suspend working or trade and economic relations, waiting for the Chinese to have enough fun.
New Year traditions of China
This is an oriental culture, but it has moments reminiscent of the New Year in Russia. And in general it is curious what the Chinese are doing on the eve of this holiday and during its onset.
Hide from the monster
If we call Grandfather Frost, who will light the Christmas tree and give out gifts, then the Chinese are trying to appease a monster named Nen (translated from the Chinese "year"). It comes on the first day of the year (January 21) and begins to destroy food supplies, and sometimes kidnaps children (if it does not receive a tasty treat).
In order not to anger the monster, the Chinese are trying to prepare a rich New Year's table with a lot of very different foods. It is believed that in this case Nen will be content with what he has and will not touch the reserves. The residents also dress up in red and hang lanterns of the same color. And this also has an explanation: according to legend, Nen once saw a boy in red clothes and ran away. Therefore, this color is considered protective.
Get together with the whole family
Chinese New Year is a family holiday, so those who work or study in a big city must go to their home to celebrate. Husbands and wives on New Year's holidays spend a lot of time together, reaching an idyll.
Clean up the house
On the eve of the Chinese New 2020 and any other year, people carefully clean their homes, throwing away all unnecessary things. So they make room for happiness.
Exchange gifts
This is a traditional gesture for every holiday in every country, and China is no exception. But if in Russia they like to give beautiful New Year cards, equipment and original souvenir sets, then the practical Chinese prefer to hand each other red envelopes with money. And each person should definitely spend the donated amount in the near future. Recently, it has become popular to give gift certificates as well.
Set the table
What is the New Year without goodies? According to Chinese traditions, a meat dish (pork, duck or chicken), as well as sweets, should be on the New Year's table. Rice flour biscuits are especially popular.
And, of course, tangerines! Fruits, whose homeland is China, are an attribute of New Year's celebrations in this country. True, they are not so much eaten as displayed on the streets in large tubs. And to give someone 2 tangerines means to wish well-being.
Have fun
New Year's Eve in China, as well as in Russia, is marked by a grandiose fireworks display, which is arranged by the city administration or the local residents themselves. People in a great mood come out to the squares, where they are happy to chat and take pictures. Also, the Chinese New Year is street performances, colorful performances and performances with a huge traditional Dragon and Lion dance. The festivities end on the 15th day, when the grand Lantern Festival begins. They are lit in honor of Wen-di, the emperor of the Han dynasty, who ascended the throne on this very day many centuries ago.
By the way! You can't cry and be sad on Chinese New Year. If a sad person is met on the street, he is immediately encouraged to get involved in the celebration as soon as possible.
How to celebrate the New Year 2020
There is no need to adopt all the traditions of China, because we have our own wonderful holiday with Olivier, Christmas tree and Grandfather Frost. But people will still turn to the Chinese calendar to meet 2020 by all the rules.
The rat (symbol of the year) is an intelligent, flexible and adaptable animal. Therefore, it is believed that people born in 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, etc. also possess these qualities. And babies who will be born in 2020 will grow up into creative personalities with natural charm.
What to wear
The color of 2020 in the Chinese calendar is white. Therefore, you can safely dress up in everything snow-white. The element of the year is metal, so silver shades are fine too. It is undesirable to dress in outfits with leopard and tiger prints, because the Rat does not like representatives of the feline family.
What to put on the table
Although rats are considered unpretentious in food, the hostess of 2020 must be respected. On the table, dishes from rice, buckwheat, lentils will be appropriate. Cheese and vegetables are required (pickled or canned). Berries and nuts are added to baked goods, as well as cottage cheese.
On New Year's Eve, you always believe in something unusual and magical. Therefore, traditions and symbols are perceived very sincerely and warmly. And if you think that the Metal Rat will bring good luck in 2020, it will definitely happen, despite the fact that these are Chinese norms and values.
Useful Tips
Very soon there will come a holiday beloved by many (if not all) - New Year! What will the coming year bring? What will it be according to the Chinese calendar? Where to meet him? We will try to answer these questions.
Read also:What to give for the New 2015
What will the New Year 2015 be like?
Coming 2015 - Year of the Blue Wood Goat(or Sheep). And since this animal is distinguished by a meek disposition, it is not worth waiting for cardinal changes in life.
It is better to try to save your mental and physical strength (not to mention finances) in order to increase the positive energy that will help you reach the highest heights in your career and personal life.
What will the new year 2015 bring?
· New acquaintances, contributing to the establishment of contacts and the establishment of strong business ties.
· Conclusion of profitable contracts.
· Restoring old relationships.
· Unleashing creativity.
Passion will reign on the love front: Thus, 2015 will be marked by the formation of a large number of romantic couples, an increase in the number of marriages and an increase in the birth rate. But this year there will be a lot of divorces, especially in those families where there is no love, and the ostentatious world is preserved for the sake of children.
If speak about health, then in 2015 you should take care of your physical condition, for which you need to maintain hygiene, eat right and play sports, which will help reduce the amount of salt and cholesterol in the body.
Chinese New Year
The Slavs traditionally celebrate the New Year on the night of December 31 to January 1. But the real Chinese New Year of the Goat is officially coming 19 February 2015.
When is Chinese New Year 2015
The inhabitants of the East celebrate the New Year twice - according to the lunar and astrological (or solar) calendar.
So, the lunar year, used exclusively for time tracking, begins on February 19, 2015. According to the astrological calendar, the arrival of the new year is marked by the beginning of spring, which begins on February 4, 2015 in China.
Chinese New Year 2015: interesting facts
1. To attract good luck and well-being, it is necessary to fulfill certain New Year's Eve affairs:
· Get rid of old and unnecessary things;
· Clean and decorate the apartment (house);
· Return all debts;
· To thank the destiny for the blessings sent by it;
· To do a good deed (and it is better not one and not only before the New Year);
· Prepare gifts for loved ones;
· To acquire a new outfit in which the New Year will be celebrated;
· Make a wish.
2. The Chinese New Year celebration lasts 15 days, each with its own specific role (depending on local traditions).
3. The 15th (final) day of the Chinese New Year, which falls on the full moon, is marked by the Lantern Festival - at night, people arrange a procession with lighted lanterns. The celebration ends with paper lanterns lighting up and flying up into the sky.
4. On New Year's Eve, one cannot use foul language and wish people evil, because this can bring troubles and misfortunes to the house.
What is the color of New Year 2015?
The generous and wise Goat, replacing the graceful Horse in 2015, prefers two colors - blue and green. We will talk further about how these colors can affect the fate of a person.
Green color
It is a symbol of stability, wisdom, responsiveness, kindness, prosperity, energy and new beginnings. At the same time, green is the personification of jealousy, selfishness, boredom, fatigue and even doom.
This is a kind of unique color, since on the one hand it charges with energy, and on the other hand it slows down the potential of a person, does not direct energy into a creative channel. As a result, a person himself does not demand anything, but he is not able to give anything to anyone.
Green, symbolizing stability and inner strength, is preferred by people seeking to gain self-confidence.
Blue color
It symbolizes firmness of mind, inflexibility, calmness, creativity, organization, willpower and dedication. At the same time, determination borders on fanaticism, and adherence to vanity and selfishness.
The color blue is able to enhance the power of thought, therefore it is intuitively chosen by people-philosophers who are looking for the meaning of life and are prone to deep thought.
Output
Both colors are similar in their characteristics, so it is extremely difficult to give preference to one or another. Astrologers recommend combining blue and green colors, which will help to complement, enhance or compensate for certain properties of each.
Where to spend New Year 2015?
A goat (or a Sheep) is a shy and domestic animal, so noisy parties and crowded merry festivities are unlikely to please her. It is better to meet the coming year in a cozy, quiet, calm and relaxed home atmosphere, in the circle of the closest people.
The perfect match for 2015 is this is a departure from the city limits, because a goat is a rural dweller, and therefore wide open spaces, a fire in the stove and a Christmas tree that can be dressed up right in the yard will not leave her indifferent. And as a token of gratitude, the Goat will definitely bring family happiness and good luck to the house.
And only after appeasing the Goat and the guests with delicious dishes, good wishes and, of course, New Year's gifts, you can go in search of adventure.
The number of people who are interested in the traditions and culture of China, as well as the celebration of the New Year according to the Chinese calendar, is growing every year. Despite the fact that the West has already celebrated this holiday more than a month ago, the year of the Wood Goat in China has just begun.
When is Chinese New Year 2015
New Year in China is celebrated from January 21 to February 21 - this date changes from year to year. In 2015, according to the lunar calendar, the holiday falls on February 19. Therefore, this day is also called the Lunar New Year. This is due to the fact that it occurs on the second new moon after the winter solstice. But there is also an astrological calendar, according to which the chronology of Feng Shui and Ba Tzu is kept. According to him, the exact date for Chinese New Year of the Goat 2015 fell on February 4th.
The onset of the New Year for the Chinese symbolizes the arrival of spring. The scale of the Spring Festival (Chunjie) is striking - pompously decorated shops and restaurants, firecrackers, fireworks and petards. The scale of the celebrations will surprise any tourist.
Chinese New Year traditions
The Chinese, like us, adore the New Year and prepare for it in advance - they clean apartments, prepare goodies, throwing away everything unnecessary in order to make room for happiness and wealth. After the dwelling is cleaned, figurines with the symbol of the New Year are placed around the apartment - in 2015 it is the Wood Goat.
According to tradition, the Chinese New Year is celebrated for 15 days. Every day has its own status. For example, on the last day, a lantern festival is held here. In general, the Chinese, like us, love to visit. But it is customary for them to give not so much gifts as money, which is presented in a red envelope. Red symbolizes wealth and happiness.
Oddly enough, tangerines are one of the main symbols of the New Year in China. They are a symbol of good luck and good fortune. It is customary to place fruits in vases throughout the house.
