In the spirit of the New Year, today’s infographic takes a look into the celebration of the Chinese New Year and the Zodiac calendar. With the holiday season officially over, it’s time to begin looking to the next months’ festivities and celebrations. With St. Patrick’s day far off in the springs of March, and the lackluster offerings of Valentine’s Day, we might just have to get a bit creative in our search this time of year.
Because of the proximity of Western culture’s New Year’s celebration with the beginning of the Chinese lunar calendar, most Americans often overlook the Chinese New Year and its subsequent celebrations. According to history.com, the Chinese New Year usually falls sometime in the middle of February and lasts around twelve days, depending year to year on the lunar cycle, with the final, most grandiose celebration on the last night of the previous year’s lunar cycle. Now commonly termed the “Spring Festival,” Chinese New Year’s celebrations have come to characterize more modern holiday celebrations centered around relaxation and off-time from work, and less on the traditional focus of family. Common customs of Chinese New Year consist of parades, large dinner gatherings, and the exchange of little red envelopes (usually containing money or some other gift) between family members and loved ones.
This year’s celebrations will begin in early to mid February, with festivities concluding on February 19 at the beginning of the new Chinese lunar calendar. 2015 ushers in the year of the goat, bringing good fortune to those whose Zodiac symbol is the goat, or sheep. For more info on this year’s celebrations and when you’re zodiac symbol will be celebrated next, check out today’s infographic!