Chinese New Year 2019: When is the Chinese New Year? What is the animal this year?
CHINESE New Year is now being celebrated around the world, with traditional festivities, gift giving and meals to commemorate the New Year. But when is the Chinese New Year? What is the animal this year?
Chinese New Year: What to expect from the Year of the Pig
When is the Chinese New Year?
This year, Chinese New Year falls on Tuesday, February 5, and festivities usually last for around two weeks.
This year the celebrations will come to an end on Tuesday, February 19.
There are several superstitions and customs associated with Chinese New Year, and these can vary within China.
Read More: Chinese New Year 2019: Why is 2019 the year of the pig?
One tradition is for families to gather for an annual reunion dinner, parades featuring dragon and lion dances and fireworks.
Families also thoroughly clean their homes in order to sweep away any ill fortune for the coming year.
Homes are also decorated with red paper garlands and red envelopes which contain money are given to family members.
Another tradition is that each year is represented as an animal in the Chinese zodiac.
This can be a snake, horse, dog, goat, monkey, rooster, pig, rat/mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit or dragon.
What is the animal this year?
The zodiac animal for 2019 is the Pig, and those born in the year of the pig are said to have a beautiful personality and are blessed with good fortune in life.
The zodiac animals rotate every 12 years, an approximation to the 11.85-year orbital period of Jupiter, the largest planet of the Solar System.
In recent years those born in the year of the pig have been born in 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 and now 2019.
Another way that Chinese New Year is celebrated is with Yuan Xiao or Lantern Festival.
The Lantern Festival began more than 2,000 years ago and celebrates family reunions as well as society as a whole.
There are ancient spiritual traditions including moon gazing, lighting lanterns, riddles, lion dances and eating rice balls.
This year the Lantern Festival takes place on Tuesday, February 19.