The start of the new year according to the Chinese calendar, also known as the Spring Festival, is a momentous occasion. This year, it falls on January 25th, with the festival carrying on for the next two weeks, till 8th February. The new year begins on the first day of the new moon that falls between the 21st of January and 20th of February, which happens to be January 25th this year. The reason for this is that the lunar month containing the winter solstice is considered to be the 11th month of the Chinese Year.
The upcoming year according to the Chinese calendar is the Year of the Yang Metal Rat. It is fairly commonly known that Chinese years are named after one of the 12 animals of the zodiac, namely the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. What is not as commonly known is that there is a 10-year cycle of heavenly stems. Each of the ten heavenly stems is associated with one of the five elements of Chinese astrology, namely: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The elements are rotated every two years while a yin and yang association alternates every year. Together, the stem and the zodiac produce a combined naming cycle that repeats every 60 years, meaning the last Year of the Yang Metal Rat occurred in 1960.
The Chinese New Year is celebrated differently across different parts of China. For example, while it is traditional to have a large family dinner with special meats across China, in Northern China it is traditional to eat dumplings around midnight. In Southern China, the tradition is to make a glutinous new year cake and send pieces of the cake as gifts to relatives and friends in the days after the New Year.
There are several ways that you can get in the festive spirit this year in Dubai, such as attending one of the many Hala China events, witnessing the Chinese New festivities at one of the processions throughout the city or even going for a Chinese New Year-themed meal!
The Yinyang team would like to wish everyone a very happy Chinese New Year!
