10 “Why”s of Chinese New Year中国新年的十个“为什么”

张菊

Chinese New Year （CNY） is China’s most important traditional festival， with many interesting customs. You must be very curious about why the Chinese do what they do...

1. Why don’t the Chinese just celebrate New Year on January 1？

Chinese New Year is never on January 1. Chinese have a different traditional date for New Year.

Though China has a day off on January 1， and some fireworks are let off then， most attention is focused on the traditional date of New Year， according to China’s lunar calendar1. Chinese New Year falls in the period from January 21 to February 20.

The Chinese get no time off for Christmas （except those in HK， Macau， and Taiwan）. Instead of earlier in winter， the Chinese have their much-needed winter break in mid to late winter.

The holiday time was chosen for farmers. It’s a good time for them to get together， relax， and pray for the next year of farming， as it’s the slack time before spring ploughing etc. begins.

2. Why does the date for Chinese New Year change every year？

Firstly， China’s lunar calendar is according to the moon. New Year always starts with a new moon for the Chinese. Secondly， it is according to the sun. Chinese New Year is always 1 to 2 months after China’s shortest day of the year （the winter solstice， December 21 or 22）.

（Like Easter’s varying date， on the Sunday after the full moon after the March equinox， CNY is on the second new moon before the March equinox， or the second new moon after the December solstice.）

So the Chinese lunar date is always 21–51 days behind the corresponding Gregorian （international） calendar date… except when they add a month.

3. Why do the Chinese call Chinese New Year ‘Spring Festival’？

Chinese New Year always falls within half a month of ‘Start of Spring’ （beginning February 4）， the first of the 24 solar terms2 of China’s traditional solar calendar. As ‘Start of Spring’ begins the ‘farming calendar’ it is logical that New Year should be celebrated then， with a ‘spring’ festival.

‘Start of Spring’ is an oddly named solar term， because spring is still a month or more away in China’s cold north， and wintry weather still lingers in temperate south China. However， Chinese still celebrate （the coming） spring with the Spring Festival.

To distinguish between ‘international’ New Year （January 1） and Chinese New Year， instead of using ‘New Year’， Chinese call January 1 ‘first dawn’ （元旦） and Chinese New Year ‘Spring Festival’ （春節）.

4. Why is each Chinese New Year associated with a different animal？

Since ancient times， Chinese people have been using the Chinese Zodiac animals to represent the years. Each lunar year is related to a zodiac animal， beginning at Chinese New Year. The 12 zodiac animals recur on a 12-year cycle.

For example， 2019 is a year of the Pig， as was 2007...

5. Why are there not enough trains at Chinese New Year？

Chinese New Year is the most important time for family reunions. No matter how far Chinese are from their homes， they do whatever they can to get back for a family reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve， which results in the world’s biggest annual migration of people （over 200 million in China）.Even with the rail network at capacity3， train tickets are the first to sell out.

6. Why do the Chinese eat dumplings on New Year’s Eve？

Dumplings are a traditional Chinese New Year food， especially in North China. As they are the shape of old silver and gold ingots （an old form of currency）， Chinese believe that eating dumplings will bring prosperity in the coming year.

7. Why do the Chinese set off so many firecrackers？

For the right vibe4： Chinese New Year is a happy and lively festival， so for Chinese people lots of noise is a must to heighten the festival atmosphere， and firecrackers （and fireworks） are the cultural way to do it.

In ancient times， it was believed that the explosive sound of firecrackers scared away evil spirits， who might otherwise bring bad luck.

In modern China， people set off firecrackers and fireworks during festivals to express their happiness， and invite good luck （all firecrackers are the lucky color red）.

8. Why do the Chinese hand out red envelopes at Chinese New Year？

For luck： In Chinese culture， red is a lucky color， so giving money in a red envelope is a way of giving best wishes， as well as a financial present. It’s like sending a greetings card with money inside in the West. Red envelope money is called ‘lucky money’， though it’s really the red envelope that’s lucky.

Demon suppression： Traditionally red envelope money is called ‘suppressing years money’ （壓岁钱yāsuìqián /yaa-sway-chyen）. According to many New Year legends， evil spirits are scared of red， so red envelopes were originally used to suppress or ward off5 demons while giving money.

Chinese New Year， like Christmas in the West， is ‘the season of good will’ in China， so most people receive a red envelope from someone， whether employer or family. There are lots of customs about who gives who how much in a red envelope.

9. Why do Chinese wear new red or colorful clothes at CNY？

It is believed that wearing new clothes from head to toe symbolizes a new start and fresh hopes for the New Year. Chinese believe that New Year’s Day sets the tone for the rest of the year， so everyone tries to dress well.

As mentioned repeatedly here， red is China’s good luck color， believed to scare away spirits of bad fortune.

Chinese usually wear red or other brightly-colored clothes on New Year’s Day， to go with the festive and upbeat6 mood. Black or white， symbolic of mourning and death would not be appropriate.

10. Why do Chinese do dragon and lion dances at Chinese New Year？

Dragon dances and lion dances are traditional performances for joyous festivals and big occasions to enhance festive atmosphere.

It is traditionally believed that performing dragon or lion dances （during the Spring Festival） is a way to pray for good luck and drive away evil spirits.

中国新年（CNY）是中国最重要的传统节日，有许多有趣的习俗。你一定很好奇为什么中国人会那样庆祝……

1. 为什么中国人不在公历1月1日庆祝新年？

中国新年从不在1月1日，中国人的新年有不同的传统日期。

虽然1月1日中国会放一天假，那天也会放些烟花，但最受关注的还是根据中国农历所定的传统农历年。中国新年恰逢1月21日至2月20日期间的某一天。

中国人圣诞节不放假（除香港、澳门和台湾地区）。中国人急需的冬歇在隆冬至晚冬，而非初冬。

这个假日时间是为农民选的。对他们来说，那时正好聚在一起放松放松，并为来年农事祈祷;那时也是春耕等农活开始前的闲暇时间。

2. 为什么中国新年的日期每年都变？

首先，中国农历是根据月亮的运行制定的。新年对中国人而言总是始于新月。其次，也是根据太阳的运行。中国新年总是在一年中最短那一天（冬至，12月21日或22日）之后的1至2个月。

（正如复活节是在3月春分之后满月后的那个周日一样，具体日期不定;中国新年是在3月春分前的第二个新月，或12月冬至后的第二个新月。）

因此，中国农历日期总是比相应的国际通用的公历日期晚21至51天，那一年有闰月的除外。

3. 为什么中国人称中国新年为“春节”？

中国新年总是在“立春”（始于2月4日）后的半个月内。“立春”是中国传统二十四节气的第一个。因为“立春”是“农历”之始，所以在那时用“春”节庆祝新年是有道理的。

节气“立春”的命名有点儿奇怪，因为在中国寒冷的北方，春天还有一个多月之久;在气候温和的中国南方，天气也依旧寒冷。但中国人仍然用春节来庆祝（即将到来的）春天。

为了区分“国际”新年（1月1日）和中国新年，中国人不用“新年称呼1月1日，而称其为“元旦”，中国新年为“春节”。

4. 为什么每一个中国新年都会和一个不同的动物联系在一起？

远古以来，中国人就一直用中国十二生肖的动物来代表年份。从中国新年开始，每一个农历年都和一个生肖联系在一起。十二生肖12年一个轮回。

比如，2019年是猪年，与2007年一样……

5. 为什么中国新年的时候，火车总是一票难求？

中国新年是最重要的家人团聚时间。无论离家多远，人们都会尽其所能在除夕夜赶回去吃团圆饭，因此就有了世界上最大规模的年度人口迁移（在中国超过2亿）。即便铁路系统满负荷运转，火车票也是最先售罄的。

6. 为什么中国人在新年除夕夜吃饺子？

饺子是中国新年的传统食物，尤其在华北。因为饺子外形看起来像以前的金银元宝（旧时货币），中国人便认为吃饺子能为来年带来财运。

7. 为什么中国人放那么多鞭炮？

为了营造氛围：中国新年是欢乐、热闹的节日。对中国人而言，噼噼啪啪的响声是增强节日气氛的必要条件，鞭炮（和烟花）就是达到这一效果的文化方式。

远古时代，人们相信鞭炮的爆炸声能吓跑可能带来厄运的恶鬼。

现代中国，人们在节日期间放鞭炮和烟花表达喜悦，同时希望带来好运（所有的鞭炮都是幸运的红色）。

8. 为什么中国人新年发红包？

为了好运：中国文化里，红色是幸运色，因此，把钱放在红色信封里送出去就是在送最好的祝福，也是一份礼金。这就像西方人把钱放在贺卡里一样。红包里的钱被称为“好运钱”，可实际上代表幸运的是红信封。

镇鬼：红包传统上被称作“压岁钱”。據很多新年传说，恶鬼害怕红色，因此，用红色信封最初是为在给钱时镇住或抵挡恶鬼。

中国新年就像西方的圣诞节，是“美好祝福的节日”，大多数人会收到别人给的红包，也许是雇主的，也许是家人的。关于谁给谁的红包里该放多少钱，有很多习俗。

9. 为什么中国人在中国新年穿红色或色彩艳丽的衣服？

人们认为，从头到脚穿戴一新象征着新年新的开始、新的希望。中国人认为，新年那天是为一年的其余日子奠定基调，因此，每个人都尽力好好打扮。

正如本文反复提到的，红色是中国的幸运色，人们相信它能吓跑带来厄运的恶鬼。

中国人通常会在新年那天穿红色或者鲜艳的衣服，来搭配喜庆欢快的氛围。象征哀悼和死亡的黑色或白色不合时宜。

10. 为什么中国人在中国新年舞龙舞狮？

舞龙舞狮是欢乐节日或者大型庆典的传统表演节目，用以增强节日气氛。

传统认为，（春节期间）舞龙舞狮是祈祷好运、赶走恶鬼的方式。

（译者单位：中华女子学院）

【本文的翻译工作得到国家留学基金资助，项目编号201700830007】