Mystery of varying Chinese New Year Dates

Chinese New Year Dates

The principal traditional festival of the Chinese calendar is the Chinese New Year. Celebrated on the first date of the foremost month of the Chinese calendar, the festival is also popularly known as Lunar New Year and Spring Festival. Since the festival is based on the lunar phase, the Lunar New Year dates keep changing every year. The date fluctuates between 21st January and 20th February.

Lunar New Year is the longest festival of the Chinese; it is celebrated for 15 long days. The date of Chinese New Year for the year 2011 is on 3rd February. Lunar New Year, 2011 is the Chinese year of rabbit. Chinese zodiac comprises twelve animals for the twelve year cycle. Each of the animals is representative of different characteristics, seasons and colors. All the animals have a fixed element; the element for rabbit is ‘wood’. The other animals to have the same element are tiger and dragon.

The year of the Rabbit usually comes in every 12th year. The animal Rabbit for symbolic of affection, serenity, gentleness as well as family related beings, the animal is related to the symbol of earthly branch. The elements of the Chinese astrology are fire, metal, earth and water. These elements rotate in every 2 years.

Chinese New Year is celebrated on different dates on different years. Some of the countries where this New Year is elaborately celebrated apart from Mainland China and Hong Kong are Indonesia, Malaysia, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore and Vietnam. In addition, Lunar New Year is also celebrated in Canada, United States and Australia. Extensive shopping, giving away red envelopes, parades, decorations, exchanging gifts, family reunion are the major highlights of the Chinese New Year.

Public holiday is observed on the New Year. Cuisines hold a significant place in the Chinese New Year. Family reunion dinner is arranged in almost every household on New Year’s Eve. The traditional dishes of the New Year mainly include fish and chicken. The dishes cooked during this time are symbolic of good fortune, happiness and health. After the dinner, red packets are given to the children by the elderly. These packets contain money that is reflective of honor and good luck.