It’s coming soon (Picture: Metro.co.uk/Getty)
Chinese New Year is just around the corner – but it’s not happening tonight.
The Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture – but it doesn’t fall on the same date as New Year’s Eve.
So, if you’re struggling to come up with a list of resolutions for 2024, fear not, because you still have a few more weeks until Chinese New Year.
Here’s everything to know about the celebration…
When is Chinese New Year 2024?
Families celebrate Chinese New Year together and decorate their houses red (Picture: Getty Images)
Chinese New Year falls on Saturday February 10, 2024.
This date differs every year – so, for example, Chinese New Year 2023 fell on January 22, and in 2022 it was on February 1.
Why is Chinese New Year different?
Chinese New Year falls in February according to the Gregorian Calendar (Picrure: Getty Images)
The most commonly used calendar in the world – and the one we use – is the Gregorian Calendar, which was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. It’s a solar calendar based on a 365-day year, divided into 12 months.
However, Chinese New Year is based on the lunisolar calendar – which is why it’s sometimes called Lunar New Year, too.
Each year, Chinese New Year is celebrated at the second new moon following the Winter Solstice and can fall anywhere between late January 21 and February 20 on the Gregorian Calendar.
The Chinese lunar calendar has 12 months and 353 to 355 days. During a leap year it has 13 months and 383 to 385 days.
What animal will Chinese New Year 2024 be?
The Dragon is the most famous Chinese Zodiac animal (Picture: Getty Images)
Chinese New Year 2024 marks the start of the Year of the Dragon.
The Chinese Zodiac is a traditional classification cycle of 12 animals that assigns one of the creatures (and its particular attributes) to a given year. It’s based on the Chinese calendar and not only are the animals meant to represent years in China, they’re also meant to influence people’s personalities, career opportunities, marriage and fortune.
Because 2024 is the year of the dragon, specifically the Wood Dragon, people born next year will be fantastic leaders, charismatic, confident and have natural luck in abundance.
The Dragon is probably the most famous of the Chinese Zodiac animals. In 2023, we celebrated the Year of the Water Rabbit, because each animal is also assigned an element.
Wood is associated with springtime and signifies enthusiasm and growth.
Which Chinese Zodiac animal am I?
2023 was the Year of the Rabbit (Picture: Getty Images)
The 12 animals and their recent corresponding recent years are:
Rat (1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)
Ox (1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021)
Tiger (1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022)
Rabbit (1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023)
Dragon (1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024)
Snake (1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025)
Horse (1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026)
Goat (1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027)
Monkey (1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028)
Rooster (1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)
Dog (1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)
Pig (1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019)
How long does Chinese New Year last for?
2024 is the Year of the Dragon (Picture: Getty Images)
Chinese New Year typically lasts for 15 days, starting on Chinese New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival, which is taking place on Saturday February 24, 2024.
How is Chinese New Year celebrated?
There are lots of traditions associated with Chinese New Year (Picture: Getty Images)
Families come together for banquets and to enjoy outdoor spectacles with firecrackers, fireworks and dancing dragons.
In China, families travel thousands of miles to be with each other to ring in the New Year – and since 1990, people have been given a week off from work for it.
Those who celebrate Chinese New Year typically decorate their houses with red for good luck, and children are given red envelopes with money inside.
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Chinese New Year is happening soon, so you still have some time to prepare your resolutions.