The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, will be in full swing for millions of people between Tuesday 1 February and Wednesday 15 February 2022. It’s a time of celebration, family get-togethers, and spectacle, both in China and in cities around the globe.
We are all familiar with the brilliant reds and golds of dragon and lion puppets, where vivid masks and costumes of cloth are draped over dancers who mimic the movement and vitality of these traditional Chinese good fortune symbols. But what lies behind the mesmerising theatrics, the gunpowder, and the glowing lanterns?
Chinese New Year traditions date back some 3,500 years to the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE). They began as religious celebrations linked to the harvest, the gods, and the ancestors’ goodwill. Farmers, who depended on the land, would make sacrifices, worship their gods, and pray for bountiful crops, blessings, and peace at the beginning of each agricultural year.
Over time, ancient elements of the festival developed and changed. The invention of gunpowder made the manufacture of fire crackers possible. Many countries worldwide now celebrate the New Year with fireworks and crackers made from this ancient Chinese discovery.
Gradually, the festival incorporated other traditions, including walking on stilts and masked theatrical performances. Artists today still create elaborately-painted masks to tell the stories of government officials, folk characters, animals, and gods.
Today, the Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival in China. It is a time for family reunions, creating good fortune for the coming year, and celebrating life together.
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