Chinese New Year and Holiday
Chinese New Year is the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. Every year is represented by a zodiac animal sign.
New Year
New Year’s Day, which is on January 1, marks the start of the year in the Gregorian calendar and it's a public holiday in many countries.
Islamic New Year (Indonesia)
The Hijri New Year, also known as Islamic New Year (Arabic: رأس السنة الهجرية Raʼs al-Sanah al-Hijrīyah) is the day that marks the beginning of a new Islamic calendar year, and is the day on which the year count is incremented.
Saka New Year (Indonesia)
Nyepi Day in Bali is a New Year celebration unlike anywhere else on the planet. Bali’s celebrates the Saka New Year as the Bali Dayof Silence, an ultimately quietest day of the year, when all of the island's inhabitants abide by a set of local rules, which brings all routine activities to a complete halt. Roads all over Bali are void of any traffic and nobody steps outside of their home premises.
Lunar New Year
Chinese New Year is the largest and most important annual festival celebrated by Chinese and Chinese descendants around the world. Also known as the Spring Festival, Chinese Lunar New Year and Lunar New Year, the Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese lunar calendar, begins on the first day of the first month and ends with Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month. Hong Kong - Feb 16-19 Lunar New Year is the most spectacular holiday of Hong Kong’s year and runs officially for three days, and even four if the holiday coincides with a Sunday. Unofficially, it is celebrated for up to two weeks.Chinese communities around the world, and particularly inHong Kong, come alive with colour, fragrance, music and celebrations over the holiday. It is a time for massive festivities, temple rituals, fortune telling, family gatherings and the exchanging of gifts. Source: http://publicholidays.hk/lunar-new-year/ Taiwan - Feb 16-20 Taiwan has a very unique atmosphere during the Spring Festival. Since most of the Taiwanese population is Chinese, many of the shops in Taiwan close during the Spring Festival. This causes many business districts of Taiwan to be quiet and empty. While commercial areas of Taiwan become calm during the Chinese New Year holiday season, neighborhoods and communities become festive and energized. Source: https://publicholidays.tw/chinese-new-year/ Vietnam - Feb 16-21 Known in Vietnam as Tet Nguyen Dan, or simply Tet, the Lunar New Year is a celebration of spring and the upcoming year. The Tet holiday starts on the beginning of a new year based on the Chinese lunar calendar. On the Gregorian calendar, the Lunar New Year falls between the end of January and the middle of February. In most of Vietnam, Lunar New Year celebrations last at least three days.During this time, the Vietnamese people spend time with family and friends while reminiscing about the past year. Source: https://publicholidays.vn/lunar-new-year/ Singapore - Feb 16-17 Also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the most important event in the Chinese calendar. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honour deities, as well as ancestors. Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, such as China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as countries in South East Asia. The most significant part about the festival is the reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, where families gather for a scrumptious meal at home or restaurant. In some families it is essential to serve fish to symbolize the popular Chinese phrase (nian nian you yu), whihc means may there be surpluses every year. Another common practice during Chinese New Year is the giving of red packets, commonly known as "ang pow" in Singapore. Sources: http://www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/chinese-new-year.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year http://publicholidays.sg/chinese-new-year/ Philippines - Feb 16 Chinese New Year is considered to be the most important festival for the Chinese community in the Philippines. It does not follow a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar, which is widely used in many countries. The celebration stretches to about 15 days with varied observations each day. Filipino-Chinese communities in the Philippines celebrate Chinese New Year every year in hope of attracting prosperity, closer family ties and peace. Most Filipino-Chinese families usually clean their homes thoroughly, prepare lucky money in red envelopes, serve sweet foods and display various food and fruits on a table, which is believed to invite good fortune. People also participate in parades and dragon dances that are organized in China Towns in different cities in the Philippines. Source: http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/philippines/chinese-new-year-day Malaysia - Feb 16-17 In Malaysia many people light fireworks during Chinese New Year. At Chinese New Years Eve, you can enjoy fireworks until the deepest hours of the night. Also at other days, people will light fireworks. The best chance to witness this is in the more Chinese areas in Kuala Lumpur (like Chinatown, Old Klang Road/Kuchai Lama and many areas in Petaling Jaya) and also in cities like Georgetown (at Penang Island), Ipoh and Malacca. Hokkien Chinese in Malaysia also light a lot a fireworks at the ninth day of Chinese New Year, in celebration of the birthday of the Jade Emperor. Source: http://www.wonderfulmalaysia.com/attractions/chinese-new-year-in-malaysia.htm Indonesia - Feb 16 Lunar Chinese New Year’s celebrations in Indonesia, known locally as Imlek, incorporate customs, beliefs and practices brought to Jakarta Indonesia by Chinese immigrants who still follow the practices handed down from their parents.Within the ethnic Chinese community there are immigrants from many regions throughout China. Distinctively different Chinese communities are found in Pontianak for example, when compared to Medan or even Jakarta. Each of these immigrant communities brought the unique traditions of their hometowns to Jakarta Indonesia. This diversity in origins explains the diversity in the way Lunar Chinese New Year is celebrated by communities throughout the Indonesian archipelago. Source: http://newyearseveblog.com/jakarta-chinese-new-year/ Thailand - Feb 16 Chinese New Year or Spring festival is hugely celebrated in many Chinese community in Thailand. The festival begins on the first day of the first lunar month and ends on the 15th day of the month . Although it is not considered to be an official holiday, numbers of Sino-Thai people usually take at least a day off in order reunite with their relatives in order to celebrate the beginning of the year together. Source: Infoquest
Islamic New Year (Indonesia)
The Hijri New Year, also known as Islamic New Year (Arabic: رأس السنة الهجرية Raʼs al-Sanah al-Hijrīyah) is the day that marks the beginning of a new Islamic calendar year, and is the day on which the year count is incremented.
Saka New Year (Indonesia)
Nyepi Day in Bali is a New Year celebration unlike anywhere else on the planet. Bali’s celebrates the Saka New Year as the Bali Dayof Silence, an ultimately quietest day of the year, when all of the island's inhabitants abide by a set of local rules, which brings all routine activities to a complete halt. Roads all over Bali are void of any traffic and nobody steps outside of their home premises.
Lunar New Year
Chinese New Year is the largest and most important annual festival celebrated by Chinese and Chinese descendants around the world. Also known as the Spring Festival, Chinese Lunar New Year and Lunar New Year, the Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese lunar calendar, begins on the first day of the first month and ends with Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month. Hong Kong - Jan 28-31 Lunar New Year is the most spectacular holiday of Hong Kong’s year and runs officially for three days, and even four if the holiday coincides with a Sunday. Unofficially, it is celebrated for up to two weeks.Chinese communities around the world, and particularly in Hong Kong, come alive with colour, fragrance, music and celebrations over the holiday. It is a time for massive festivities, temple rituals, fortune telling, family gatherings and the exchanging of gifts. Source: http://publicholidays.hk/lunar-new-year/ Taiwan - Jan 28- Feb 1 Most of the shops and tourist attractions in Taiwan bring down their shutters during the first or second day of the Chinese New Year, while hotels and restaurants will be open and busy on the Chinese New Year’s Eve, being the home to family dinners. People would spend their days on family visits, and join the myriad of events and celebrations across Taiwan cities during the Chinese New Year period. As most of the shops will be closed during some days of the Chinese New Year period, Chinese New Year markets are great places in Taiwan to prepare for your Chinese New Year feast and prepare presents to your families and friends. Source: http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/taiwan/republic-day Vietnam - Jan 28 Tet Nguyen Dan, or Tet for short, is considered the biggest and most popular festival of the year in Vietnam. Celebrated on the first day of the first month in Lunar Calendar, Tet’s celebration is the longest holiday which may last up to seven days. Source: http://www.vietnamonline.com/tet.html South Korea - Jan 27-30 Seollal is the first day of the first lunar month. For the Koreans, Seollal holds more significance than the new year of the Gregorian calendar. It is similar to the Chinese New Year holiday, and is a time for prayer and paying respect to one’s ancestor. Koreans also travel back to their hometowns to visit relatives. Preparations are done on the days leading up to Seollal, and many take the day off to travel. On the day itself, people get together to play traditional games, partake in feasts with traditional foods, or just simply enjoy one another’s company. The hanbok is traditionally worn, but many choose to don formal wear instead. The day begins with an ancestral rite of praying before a ritual table for respect and thanks, as well as praying for the family’s well being for the upcoming year. Source: http://thaholiday.com/ Singapore - Jan 28-29 Also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the most important event in the Chinese calendar. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honour deities, as well as ancestors. Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, such as China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as countries in South East Asia. The most significant part about the festival is the reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, where families gather for a scrumptious meal at home or restaurant. In some families it is essential to serve fish to symbolize the popular Chinese phrase (nian nian you yu), whihc means may there be surpluses every year. Another common practice during Chinese New Year is the giving of red packets, commonly known as "ang pow" in Singapore. Sources: http://www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/chinese-new-year.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year http://publicholidays.sg/chinese-new-year/ Philippines - Jan 28 Chinese New Year is considered to be the most important festival for the Chinese community in the Philippines. It does not follow a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar, which is widely used in many countries. The celebration stretches to about 15 days with varied observations each day. Filipino-Chinese communities in the Philippines celebrate Chinese New Year every year in hope of attracting prosperity, closer family ties and peace. Most Filipino-Chinese families usually clean their homes thoroughly, prepare lucky money in red envelopes, serve sweet foods and display various food and fruits on a table, which is believed to invite good fortune. People also participate in parades and dragon dances that are organized in China Towns in different cities in the Philippines. Source: http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/philippines/chinese-new-year-day Malaysia - Jan 28-29 In Malaysia many people light fireworks during Chinese New Year. At Chinese New Years Eve, you can enjoy fireworks until the deepest hours of the night. Also at other days, people will light fireworks. The best chance to witness this is in the more Chinese areas in Kuala Lumpur (like Chinatown, Old Klang Road/Kuchai Lama and many areas in Petaling Jaya) and also in cities like Georgetown (at Penang Island), Ipoh and Malacca. Hokkien Chinese in Malaysia also light a lot a fireworks at the ninth day of Chinese New Year, in celebration of the birthday of the Jade Emperor. Source: http://www.wonderfulmalaysia.com/attractions/chinese-new-year-in-malaysia.htm Indonesia - Jan 28 Lunar Chinese New Year’s celebrations in Indonesia, known locally as Imlek, incorporate customs, beliefs and practices brought to Jakarta Indonesia by Chinese immigrants who still follow the practices handed down from their parents.Within the ethnic Chinese community there are immigrants from many regions throughout China. Distinctively different Chinese communities are found in Pontianak for example, when compared to Medan or even Jakarta. Each of these immigrant communities brought the unique traditions of their hometowns to Jakarta Indonesia. This diversity in origins explains the diversity in the way Lunar Chinese New Year is celebrated by communities throughout the Indonesian archipelago. Source: http://newyearseveblog.com/jakarta-chinese-new-year/ Thailand - Jan 28 Chinese New Year or Spring festival is hugely celebrated in many Chinese community in Thailand. The festival begins on the first day of the first lunar month and ends on the 15th day of the month . Although it is not considered to be an official holiday, numbers of Sino-Thai people usually take at least a day off in order reunite with their relatives in order to celebrate the beginning of the year together. Source: Infoquest
Bali's Day of Silence and Hindu New Year (Indonesia)
The Hindu Day of Silence or the Hindu New Year in the Balinese Saka calendar. The largest celebrations are held in Bali as well as in Balinese Hindu communities around Indonesia. On New Year's Eve the villages are cleaned, food is cooked for two days and in the evening as much noise is made as possible to scare away the devils. On the following day, Hindus do not leave their homes, cook or engage in any activity. Streets are deserted, and tourists are not allowed to leave hotel complexes.
Lunar New Year
Chinese New Year is the largest and most important annual festival celebrated by Chinese and Chinese descendants around the world. Also known as the Spring Festival, Chinese Lunar New Year and Lunar New Year, the Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese lunar calendar, begins on the first day of the first month and ends with Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month. Hong Kong - Feb 8-10 Lunar New Year is the most spectacular holiday of Hong Kong’s year and runs officially for three days, and even four if the holiday coincides with a Sunday. Unofficially, it is celebrated for up to two weeks.Chinese communities around the world, and particularly in Hong Kong, come alive with colour, fragrance, music and celebrations over the holiday. It is a time for massive festivities, temple rituals, fortune telling, family gatherings and the exchanging of gifts. Source: http://publicholidays.hk/lunar-new-year/ Taiwan - Feb 7-12 Most of the shops and tourist attractions in Taiwan bring down their shutters during the first or second day of the Chinese New Year, while hotels and restaurants will be open and busy on the Chinese New Year’s Eve, being the home to family dinners. People would spend their days on family visits, and join the myriad of events and celebrations across Taiwan cities during the Chinese New Year period. As most of the shops will be closed during some days of the Chinese New Year period, Chinese New Year markets are great places in Taiwan to prepare for your Chinese New Year feast and prepare presents to your families and friends. Source: http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/taiwan/republic-day Vietnam - Feb 6-12 Tet Nguyen Dan, or Tet for short, is considered the biggest and most popular festival of the year in Vietnam. Celebrated on the first day of the first month in Lunar Calendar, Tet’s celebration is the longest holiday which may last up to seven days. Source: http://www.vietnamonline.com/tet.html South Korea - Feb 7-10 Seollal is the first day of the first lunar month. For the Koreans, Seollal holds more significance than the new year of the Gregorian calendar. It is similar to the Chinese New Year holiday, and is a time for prayer and paying respect to one’s ancestor. Koreans also travel back to their hometowns to visit relatives. Preparations are done on the days leading up to Seollal, and many take the day off to travel. On the day itself, people get together to play traditional games, partake in feasts with traditional foods, or just simply enjoy one another’s company. The hanbok is traditionally worn, but many choose to don formal wear instead. The day begins with an ancestral rite of praying before a ritual table for respect and thanks, as well as praying for the family’s well being for the upcoming year. Source: http://thaholiday.com/south-korea-public-holidays-2016/ Singapore - Feb 8-9 Also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the most important event in the Chinese calendar. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honour deities, as well as ancestors. Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, such as China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as countries in South East Asia. The most significant part about the festival is the reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, where families gather for a scrumptious meal at home or restaurant. In some families it is essential to serve fish to symbolize the popular Chinese phrase (nian nian you yu), whihc means may there be surpluses every year. Another common practice during Chinese New Year is the giving of red packets, commonly known as "ang pow" in Singapore. Sources: http://www.yoursingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/chinese-new-year.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year http://publicholidays.sg/chinese-new-year/ Philippines - Feb 8 Chinese New Year is considered to be the most important festival for the Chinese community in the Philippines. It does not follow a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar, which is widely used in many countries. The celebration stretches to about 15 days with varied observations each day. Filipino-Chinese communities in the Philippines celebrate Chinese New Year every year in hope of attracting prosperity, closer family ties and peace. Most Filipino-Chinese families usually clean their homes thoroughly, prepare lucky money in red envelopes, serve sweet foods and display various food and fruits on a table, which is believed to invite good fortune. People also participate in parades and dragon dances that are organized in China Towns in different cities in the Philippines. Source: http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/philippines/chinese-new-year-day Malaysia - Feb 8-9 In Malaysia many people light fireworks during Chinese New Year. At Chinese New Years Eve, you can enjoy fireworks until the deepest hours of the night. Also at other days, people will light fireworks. The best chance to witness this is in the more Chinese areas in Kuala Lumpur (like Chinatown, Old Klang Road/Kuchai Lama and many areas in Petaling Jaya) and also in cities like Georgetown (at Penang Island), Ipoh and Malacca. Hokkien Chinese in Malaysia also light a lot a fireworks at the ninth day of Chinese New Year, in celebration of the birthday of the Jade Emperor. Source: http://www.wonderfulmalaysia.com/attractions/chinese-new-year-in-malaysia.htm Indonesia - Feb 8 Lunar Chinese New Year’s celebrations in Indonesia, known locally as Imlek, incorporate customs, beliefs and practices brought to Jakarta Indonesia by Chinese immigrants who still follow the practices handed down from their parents.Within the ethnic Chinese community there are immigrants from many regions throughout China. Distinctively different Chinese communities are found in Pontianak for example, when compared to Medan or even Jakarta. Each of these immigrant communities brought the unique traditions of their hometowns to Jakarta Indonesia. This diversity in origins explains the diversity in the way Lunar Chinese New Year is celebrated by communities throughout the Indonesian archipelago. Source: http://newyearseveblog.com/jakarta-chinese-new-year/ Thailand - Feb 8 Chinese New Year or Spring festival is hugely celebrated in many Chinese community in Thailand. The festival begins on the first day of the first lunar month and ends on the 15th day of the month . Although it is not considered to be an official holiday, numbers of Sino-Thai people usually take at least a day off in order reunite with their relatives in order to celebrate the beginning of the year together. Source: Infoquest
Muharram: Islamic New Year (Indonesia)
The Islamic New Year is a cultural event which Muslims observe on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. Indonesian Muslims throughout the country usually help parades, festivals, dhikrs, joint prayers and other rituals to welcome this day.