Happy Chinese New Years!

      We've just concluded the finale of the three day Chinese New Year festivities and what an interesting time it's been! Based upon the lunar calendar, this is undoubtedly the most celebrated holiday in China and it's also quite popular with Chinese descendants in alternate locations. And due to this calendar's usage in such countries as Korea and Vietnam, these countries – as well as those who derive from these bloodlines – are invited to celebrate as well (flashback to Seollal in Busan, South Korea).

      The Chinese Lunar New Year begins at the new moon which falls between the 21st of January to the 20th of February on the Gregorian calendar. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Winter Solstice must occur during the 11th month which means that the New Year typically takes place on the second new moon after the Winter Solstice.

      As for the origin of the holiday itself and the customs associated with it, legend seem to tell us best. According to lore, the conception of the Chinese New Year started with a creature from mythology called the Nian. The Nian would eat villagers (especially children) during the harsh Winter months when the harvests were scarce. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food at their doors upon the first sign of a bountiful harvest believing that after the Nian ate the food offered in sacrifice, it wouldn't attack any more people. This moment in Winter became the starting point and what we know as the lunar calendar was born.

A Taoist Shrine

      What happened to the Nian, you ask? Well, an ancient Taoist monk named Hongjun Laozu, who resided in the village, decided to get revenge after being visited by a god who told him that the Nian was afraid of the color red and loud explosions. When the first harvest of the season (the New Year) was about to take place, the villagers wore wear red clothing along with hanging red lanterns and scrolls from their windows and doors. The villagers also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian which never came to the village again. The Nian was even captured by Hongjun Laozu and has since been depicted as being mounted by the monk.

Hongjun Laozu and the Nian

An Obscenely Large Amount of Pad Thai