Chinese New Year
is just two weeks from today in 2025. Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival in China is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional
lunisolar Chinese calendar. Marking the end of winter and the beginning of
spring, this festival takes place from Chinese New Year's Eve (the evening
preceding the first day of the year) to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th
day of the year. The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that
appears between 21 January and 20 February. Chinese New Year is one of the most
important holidays in Chinese culture. It has influenced similar celebrations
in other cultures, commonly referred to collectively as Lunar New Year, such as
the Losar of Tibet, the Tet of Vietnam, the Seollal of Korea, the Shogatsu of
Japan and the Ryukyu New Year.
It is also celebrated worldwide in
regions and countries with significant Overseas Chinese, especially in
Southeast Asia including Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand. It is also prominent beyond Asia,
especially in Australia, Canada, France, Mauritius, New Zealand, Peru, South
Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as in many European
countries. The Chinese New Year is associated with several myths and customs.
The festival was traditionally a time to
honour deities as well as ancestors. Within China, regional customs and
traditions concerning the celebration of the New Year vary widely. The evening
preceding New Year's Day is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the
annual reunion dinner. Traditionally, every family would thoroughly clean their
house, symbolically sweep away any ill fortune to make way for incoming good
luck. Windows and doors may be decorated with red papercuts and couplets
representing themes such as good fortune or happiness, wealth, and longevity.
Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red
envelopes.
Let me give my
own views and thoughts as much as I know on the origin of the
lunar year for the Chinese, how did it start, its origin and history and how
does it differ from the Gregorian calendar? How did the zodiac animals
came into existence, its history and significance. I am more interested in the
astronomical aspect of the lunar calendar.
Let me also explain why the
Chinese couldn’t follow the solar calendar instead of the lunar or
lunisolar calendar from the astronomical perspective.
First of all, we know the moon is
receding from earth. The moon is receding from Earth due to gravitational
interactions between the two celestial bodies due to tidal interaction. The
moon's gravity causes Earth's oceans to bulge, creating tides. Earth's rotation
causes the tidal bulge to be slightly ahead of the moon in its orbit. Friction
between the tidal bulge and Earth's rotation transfers energy to the moon's
orbit. This energy transfer pushes the moon into a higher orbit, causing it to
slowly move away from Earth due to the conservation of angular momentum. We
know the rate of recession of t Moon from Earth is about 3.8 cm per year. This
rate has slowed over time. The moon has been receding since it formed 4.5
billion years ago. The moon's recession slows Earth's rotation, making days
slightly longer. The moon's speed of movement could affect life on Earth, but
this could take billions of years to happen.
In such a case will there be any Chinese
New Year or any kind of festival that depends on the lunar calendar in the
distant future?
Allow me to address all these issues
systematically in detail.
Origin and History of the Lunar Year for
the Chinese.
The Chinese lunar calendar, also known as
the lunisolar calendar, is one of the oldest calendars in the world, dating
back over 3,000 years. It is believed to have been established during the Xia
Dynasty (2070–1600 BCE) and refined during the Shang (1600–1046 BCE) and Zhou
(1046–256 BCE) Dynasties.
The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, meaning it incorporates both lunar phases and solar cycles. Months are based on the lunar cycle (29.5 days), and the year is adjusted to align with the solar year (365.24 days). This requires the addition of a leap month roughly every three years to ensure the calendar stays synchronized with the seasons.
The Chinese New Year starts on the second new moon after the winter solstice
(between January 21 and February 20). The winter solstice was a key marker for
ancient Chinese astronomers, symbolizing the transition to longer days and the
anticipation of spring.
The calendar was developed for agricultural purposes, guiding farmers on when
to plant and harvest crops. Observations of celestial phenomena, such as the
movements of the moon and sun, were crucial for this.
How does the lunar calendar differ from
the Gregorian calendar? The Gregorian calendar is purely solar, with months of
fixed lengths to approximate the 365.24-day solar year. The Chinese calendar is
lunisolar, where months correspond to lunar cycles and years are adjusted to
the solar year with leap months.
A Gregorian month has a fixed number of
days (28–31). A Chinese lunar month alternates between 29 and 30 days,
resulting in 12 or 13 months in a year.
The Gregorian year begins on January 1,
fixed by convention. The Chinese New Year date shifts annually, depending on
the second new moon after the winter solstice.
What about the origin and significance of the zodiac animals?
This has mythological origins. The Chinese zodiac's origin is rooted in mythology. One popular story tells of the Jade Emperor, who invited animals to a race across a river to determine their order in the zodiac. The first twelve animals to complete the race were honoured with a place in the zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. This has cultural significance. Each zodiac sign is associated with unique personality traits and fortune-telling. The cycle influences many aspects of life, from matchmaking to business decisions.
It also has an astronomical basis. The
zodiac loosely corresponds to the twelve lunar months. The division into twelve
parts reflects the alignment with Jupiter's orbital period of ~12 years, which
was observed by ancient Chinese astronomers.
The question people may ask is, why not
use a solar calendar?
First, the Chinese in ancient times, and
still are, consider agricultural needs. The lunisolar calendar brings into line
better with both the lunar phases and the solar year, which was critical for
determining planting and harvesting times in ancient agrarian societies. It
also brings into line with their cultural and spiritual practices. By this, I
mean the moon holds deep cultural and spiritual significance in Chinese
traditions, symbolizing renewal, harmony, and the cyclical nature of life.
Besides, there is historical momentum. The calendar became ingrained in
Chinese society and traditions over millennia, making a shift to a purely solar
system less feasible.
In the area of astronomy where I am more
familiar and interested, we may ask what is the future impact on Chinese New
Year when the Moon recesses?
The moon is receding from Earth at ~3.8
cm/year. Over billions of years, this will cause lunar cycles to lengthen,
disrupting the alignment of lunar calendars with Earth’s seasons. Thus, if the
lunar month becomes significantly longer, lunisolar calendars may require
increasingly complex adjustments, or societies may transition to purely solar
calendars. But I personally believe there will be cultural continuity even if
astronomical conditions change, traditions like CNY could adapt, retaining
their symbolic meanings while bringing into line with new celestial or
conventional cycles.
What about the cultural, social, and
economic aspects of Chinese New Year?
The cultural aspects would still be
these:
Reunion Dinner. Families gather for
a lavish meal on New Year’s Eve, symbolizing unity and prosperity.
Decorations. Red is prominently used to
ward off evil spirits, as per the myth of Nian, a beast scared away by red and
loud noises.
Customs of cleaning the house, wearing
new clothes, and giving red envelopes signify renewal and good fortune.
The social aspects, come what may, CNY
strengthens familial and community bonds through gatherings, exchanges of
greetings, and shared rituals.
In terms of economic impact, I envisage
CNY to trigger the world's largest human migration (Chunyun) as people return
home. In retail, businesses see a surge in spending on food, gifts, and
decorations. In terms of global reach, the festival boosts tourism and fosters
cultural exchange in countries with significant Chinese populations.
There is also historical and symbolic
significance of CNY. For example, honouring ancestors and deities. CNY
originated as a way to pay respect to ancestors and pray for a prosperous year
ahead. CNY is a seasonal transition when it celebrates the end of winter and
the rebirth of nature in spring.
What about integration of astrology
others may ask? The alignment of CNY with celestial phenomena reflects ancient
China's sophisticated understanding of astronomy.
Conclusion:
Chinese New Year is a profound blend of
astronomical observation, cultural tradition, and spiritual significance. Its
enduring legacy, rooted in humanity's relationship with nature and the cosmos,
exemplifies how societies adapt celestial cycles to their cultural rhythms.
May this Year of the Wood Snake (2025) bring my readers and their families abundant health, happiness, bountiful wealth and prosperity.
May your celebrations be filled
with laughter, love, and countless happy moments.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
谢谢您! (Thank You)
jb lim
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