Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year — a common name for the Lunar New Year — is celebrated in China, Korea and around the world. In Christchurch a Lantern Festival is held each year. In 2012 it will be celebrated on 11 and 12 February at the Carlton Corner, North Hagley Park.
How the new year is calculated
In the lunar calendar each month begins on the darkest day. The new year falls on the second new moon after the winter equinox in the northern hemisphere. Matariki, the Māori New Year, is held in June, and is a similar new year celebration for the southern hemisphere.
Dates
The actual day of the Lunar New Year varies, falling between mid January and mid February. In 2012 the New Year is 23 January.
- Visit Wikipedia for a list future dates
- Read our New Year page for dates of other celebrations around the world.
The Chinese zodiac
The Chinese zodiac links twelve animals to a cycle of twelve years. Many people believe that a person born in a particular animal’s year will have the personality traits of that animal.
2012 Year of the Dragon
Lunar New Year traditions
The festival heralds the arrival of spring and the reunion of the family. Houses are cleaned from top to bottom to remove traces of old misfortune. New outfits are brought and bills paid. The Kitchen God who watches over the household all year makes his report to the Jade Emperor deciding the fate of every family. To gain his favour he is offered the best food and his lips are covered with honey.
People paste new wood-block prints called nianhua on their doorways. Symbols of fish for abundance, dragons for power, butterflies for longevity, bats for good luck and seeds or melons for children convey hopes for the coming year.
Red is a dominant colour for new year decorations and fortune telling is a popular event at this time.
The Lantern festival
Celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the festival is symbolic of light and warmth after the cold of winter. The displays of lanterns have become increasingly sophisticated and spectacular.
Chinese migration to Christchurch
Christchurch has over the last decade experienced a big increase in its Chinese migrant communities. In the 2006 Census 12,480 people identified themselves as ethnic Chinese – this included Taiwanese, Malaysian and Singaporean Chinese, Hong Kong and mainland Chinese. This was an increase of 4,000 from the 2001 census.
Chinese resources
Our online resources
- Chinese organisations
- A listing of Chinese organisations, reflecting a range of cultural, arts and Church associations. From CINCH, our Community Information Christchurch database.
- Language courses
- Chinese language courses. From CINCH, our Community Information Christchurch database.
Browse our resources
- Learning Chinese
- Language kits with books and CDs can be borrowed for a small charge from most libraries.
- Chinese cooking
- There are many regional specialities, and our cookbooks reflect this great range of cuisine.
- Chinese New Year
- These books include crafts, customs and food.
- Chinese festivals
- Information on Chinese cultural celebrations.
- Chinese fiction
- Novels by Chinese authors.
- Chinese magazines
- A selection of magazines from our collection.
