Red Warning
About a week later China is approaching a condition of anarchy. Almost all factories and stores will shut down. Adults don’t work but gambling at home and children wouldn’t go to school either, they will carry explosives on the street and begging money from adults. People post red banners about their hope outside the house. You can hear the booming rumble like thunder continued for whole the night.
It sounds lurid but for people who have never visited China during Chinese New Year, this conclusion could also be their first impression. There are some clues to reveal how Chinese New Year looks like.
Lunar New Year
The date varies annually in accordance with the Chinese lunisolar calendar, but this year it will take place on Tuesday 5 February. The associated festivities typically run for two weeks, from New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month. Having special ceremonial foods at the family reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve is called “Nian Ye Fan”. This meal can be seen as Christmas Eve dinner. After dinner is the Spring Festival Gala, watching tv with the family together can be one characteristic of Chinese New Year. This four-hour spectacular broadcast since 1982 that routinely attracts 800m viewers. It is thought to be the world’s most-watched programme.
Year of Pig
In the West, the twelve creatures of the Chinese zodiac have become increasingly familiar, with this year being that of the Pig. African swine fever has been spreading rapidly in China to make a “pre-celebration”, however it can’t stop the fever of pig, especially the iconic British brand Peppa Pig, from the whole Chinese society. Peppa Pig will be more frequent show up in public and wear the crown to state the victory to be the top carton start.
Chinese Red
Red is bright and catching eyes. It’d be seen as a lucky colour in China. That’s easy to understand because too many Chinese goods are red already. Red paper lanterns and banners bearing poetic inscriptions are hung as decorations, the colour believed to bring good luck and prosperity. Children are likewise handed “lucky money” in red envelopes during the season to encourage good fortune. Dressing up with a red element can be a great idea to win the appreciation of your Chinese friend. On contrary, colour white will be seen as the sign of sadness, like mourning. Unless dressing in white from top to toe, elders will not judge it about it. By the way, wearing red underwear to gain more luckiness is common and a decent choice.
New Entertainment
Traveling is the new option for Chinese young generation to celebrate CNY. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, going out is also a good beginning for being new.
Forward flight booking data showed that bookings from China to the UK were up 24% from Wednesday 30 January to Tuesday 12 February, compared to the period when Chinese New Year fell last year. Longer term forward booking data shows that bookings from China to the UK were up 31% from January to June this year compared to the same period in 2018.
How will Chinese New Year be marked in the UK
London’s Chinatown in the West End plays host to the largest Spring Festival celebrations outside of Asia, with this year’s 50-float parade taking place between Shaftesbury Avenue and Trafalgar Square on 10 February.
The area’s restaurants are typically packed as diners join in the carnival atmosphere, while fireworks, speeches, and acrobatic displays will take place in front of the National Gallery and in Leicester Square.
Similar festivities will be held in other British cities with large Chinese communities, including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
