China Celebrates New Year: the Earth Pig Officially Replaces the Dog

• 02.04.2019, 17:43
•  Asia,  World,  No-politics

Aly song / Reuters

China celebrates the Eastern New Year today, which begins on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, which also means that the Earth Pig, the symbol of 2019, now officially replaces the dog.

The Chinese believe that the end of the year is the spring celebration, which is met with massive festivals and fireworks. Traditionally, at the beginning of each New Year, the Chinese were forced to hide from the monster named Nyann. He visited very first day of the New Year to devour livestock, grain and food supply, and sometimes even villagers, especially children. With every coming New Year, the residents, in order to protect themselves, put the food in front of their buildings and doors. Moreover, according to legend, it was considered that if there was more food, the animal would be kinder and more concessive. People believed that if Nyann would be saturated with food prepared for him, he would not attack people and would leave them alone.

Once people saw that Nyann got frightened from a little child, who was wearing red clothes and decided that he was afraid of the red color. Thus, from then on, every time when the New Year comes, people hang red lights in the windows and doors of their houses and provide each other with red wrapping gifts. Fireworks are also organized in order to frighten the monster. The Chinese believed that the maintenance of these customs would make Nyann to bypass their homes.

New Year's celebration traditionally lasts for 15 days, and each day has its special significance. The Chinese are trying to pay tribute to their gods and ancestors. Most Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner.

The Chinese get rid of their old items on New Year's Eve, opening a place for next year's news, and the doors and windows are decorated with festive wishes. Evening begins with a festive march in the streets with the Chinese red dragon, during which the participants dance under high rate of drums.

The third day of the holiday is called "red dog" and is not considered to be favorable for the congratulations. The Chinese are trying to stay at home that day.

Chinese New Year ends with the Lantern day. That day the Chinese go to streets with lanterns, calling the wandering souls. That day in Malaysia and Singapore people celebrate the feast of love.

This holiday, besides in China, is also celebrated in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mauritius, the Philippines, Macau, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.