Chinese New Year 2022 Year of the Water Tiger

The Chinese New Year 2022 is the year of the water tiger. Chinese New Year celebrations will last for 16 days in total. They will begin with New Year’s Eve celebrations on the 31st January 2022 and end on the 15th February 2022 with the Lantern Festival.

The start of the Chinese New Year varies each year because the New Year is determined by the Chinese lunar calendar, which is based on the cycles of the moon and sun.

Chinese New Year Celebrations

Leading up to the Chinese New Year, people will thoroughly clean their homes to remove bad luck. Which helps to bring positive energy and good fortune for the coming year. Also, many Chinese people will visit their ancestors’ graves and offer sacrifices as a sign of respect.

New Year’s Eve

Chinese New Year’s Eve is the most essential part of the entire two weeks festivities because of the reunion dinner. The reunion dinner is where all the family join together for a mammoth spread of food and drinks.

On the menu, expect lucky dumplings because they are signs of prosperity, plenty of fish that symbolises abundance, and rice cakes that represent higher income. Families will stay up late to see in the New Year and watch firework displays, exchange red envelopes that contain lucky money and play board games.

New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day is traditionally a time for elders to visit family and friends, while younger generations enjoy social activities. The most meaningful thing is to wish a happy new year to everyone you encounter, including family, friends, associates, neighbours and passers-by. The celebrations and traditions continue until the lantern festival on the 15th day.

Lantern Festival

Traditionally held on the 15th day after New Year’s Day, the Chinese lantern festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. This year, it will take place on 15th February 2022.

Impressive firework displays light up the streets. Streets are adorned with red lanterns that often have riddles to solve, and crowds gather to watch the dragon and lion dancers. And many people indulge in tangyuan, a rice ball that represents luck for the New Year.