When is Chinese new year 2024 and which animal is it?

Chinese New Year is one of the biggest celebrations for Asian communities around the world.

The first day of Chinese New Year usually falls between 21 January and 20 February – when, according to ancient Chinese tradition, the new moon falls.

Here’s everything you need to know about the celebrations, and when they will take place this year.

When is Chinese New Year 2024?

This year the Chinese New Year will fall on 10 February, with festivities to mark the occasion running from February 10 until 17.

How is Chinese New Year celebrated?

While it is unclear exactly when new year celebrations began in China, it is believed to have originated as early as 2,300 BC with Emperors Yao and Shun.

At first the holiday was marked between mid-winter and early spring, however, it soon adopted the solar calendar and relied on the moon phase to lock down the date.

One of the most famous traditional greetings for Chinese New Year is the Cantonese kung hei fat choi, literally meaning: “Greetings, become rich.”

In many Chinese cities, from New Year’s Day, traditional performances can be seen such as dragon dances, lion dances, and imperial performances like an emperor’s wedding.

A great variety of traditional Chinese products are on offer, and rarely seen Chinese snacks available in city parks and temple fairs.

Red decorations, red-wrapped gifts, and red clothes are everywhere at Chinese New Year.

New Year’s Eve starts with a family dinner, which will almost always take place in the home rather than a restaurant, and reunite family members.

Dinner is followed be Shou Sui, which sees family members stay awake together during the night, launching crackling fireworks at midnight.

In the coming days, red envelopes with money are usually given by adults to children and it’s believed the packet will ward off evil and grant a long life.

The Yuan Xiao Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival, takes place on the 15th day, and sees people release paper lanterns into the skies.

What is the Chinese New Year 2023 animal?

There are 12 Chinese zodiac animals in total: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

Each animal is given certain characteristics, and they rotate each year, with 2024 being the year of the dragon.

This follows 2023’s zodiac sign the Rabbit, 2022’s Tiger and the Ox in 2021.

You’re a Dragon if your birth year falls on: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012.

What is the Chinese zodiac story?

The dragon holds the fifth position in the Chinese zodiac, embodying auspicious qualities such as good luck, strength, health, and the male element Yang within Chinese culture.

While Western cultures often associate dragons with evil and darkness, in China, the dragon is revered as a symbol of imperial power and authority.

People born in the year of the dragon are characterized by charisma, intelligence, confidence, and natural luck, approaching tasks with high standards and excellence.

Globally, more than two billion people participate in the celebration of this festival, which is recognised as a national holiday in various countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, North Korea, and Taiwan.