2022 was the Year of the Water Tiger, a turbulent year full of conflicting events, tense situations, and much turmoil, but the Water Rabbit will deliver an entirely different year compared to this one.
According to the traditional Chinese calendar, the Chinese New Year 2023 or the Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) is celebrated on January 22, 2023. The Year of the Rabbit has also been celebrated in 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, and 1927.
Most Rabbit years are quiet, positive, and inspiring, and 2023 will be heading in that direction – a welcomed change after the hectic and rather dramatic Tiger year.
What Do You Need To Do to Get Lucky in 2023?
According to the Chinese horoscope 2023, family, diplomacy and personal development will be emphasized this year. The arts and culture sector will be very busy, generating famous artworks and exhibitions throughout the year. Love, romance, and family life are emphasized leading to a renewal of feelings for loved ones.
Furthermore, the Rabbit is in close connection with nature, which means that environmental protection issues will be in the spotlight around the world. Alternative energy sources and ecology will also be highlighted.
The Year of the Rabbit is auspicious for the family and its relationships, being an ideal year for marriage or the birth of a child.
The Origin and History of Chinese New Year
According to many ancient tales and legends, it has been said that the first Chinese New Year came about after a fight with a mythical creature. Long ago a lion-like monster came to torment local villagers devouring crops, livestock, and even children. The creature’s name was Nian, which is also the Chinese word for the year.
In order to combat the evil monster, the villagers made loud noises using drums and firecrackers. Once the villagers learned that Nian feared the color red, they took to hanging red lanterns and scrolls on their doors. Eventually, Nian was conquered and the villagers were saved. Since then, the anniversary of this victory was celebrated every year.
Another legend related to this holiday involves the Buddha. According to this tale, Buddha asked all the animals to gather and meet him on Chinese New Year. As it happened only twelve of the animals came. In honor of these animals, he named a year after each one. From then on there would be a year of the rat, year of the ox, tiger, year of the rabbit, dragon, year of the snake, horse, sheep or goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
This holiday is celebrated in countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and Mauritius, but also in Europe, Australia, New Zeeland, America, and Canada, especially in the areas with a big Chinese community.
Lunar New Year 2023 Calendar
The Chinese calendar is not like the Gregorian calendar, the first day of Chinese New Year starts with the new moon, which appears between January 21 and February 20, and the last day known as the Lantern festival celebrated with night lantern displays, ends 15 days later on the full moon.
New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve are celebrated with family. Traditionally, family celebrations were religious affairs, given in honor of the household and ancestors.
The most important religious ritual was the sacrifice to the ancestors. Loved ones, and dearly departed are remembered with the greatest respect, as they are responsible for the present and future good family fortune.
The family celebration on New Year’s Eve is known as the “surrounding the stove” or weilu. This comprises of a dinner arranged for the spirits of the ancestors, together with the living and represents past and present, and one strong community.
The most important New Year custom is for married couples to give lucky money called ‘lay-see’ to unmarried relatives, especially children.
‘Lay-see’ is a red packet containing ‘lucky money’ which people believe will bring luck to both the receiver and giver.
Older family members must also give lucky money to all those who are younger in the family, including those who are married. Kung hei fat choy!
Why Does The Lunar New Year Date Change?
The Chinese New Year is based on a lunar year instead of a fixed number of days. Each month the moon comes back as a new moon on a different date. On average about 29.53 days. So some months will be 29 and others will be 30 days long. 12 lunar months will take 354.36 days, short of the 365 days in a solar year.
To fix this the Chinese added an extra month every third year. In the Chinese calendar, the beginning of the month is marked by the dark moon. The new year starts on a new moon. A full moon occurs in the middle of the month.
