新年好 xīn nián hǎo
Happy Chinese New Year!
The year of ox comes with the 福 character we wrote down at our first after-work event. 福 means happiness and luck, embodying all the blessings we have for the future life. It is also symbolic of Spring Festival which is the most important traditional festival in Chinese culture.
Chinese New Year in 2021 starts officially tomorrow. SwedCham China wishes you a wonderful time with your loved ones and we wish everyone is as strong and healthy as an OX! 祝您牛年大吉，牛运亨通！
Here are some fun facts about Spring Festival. Let‘s start the year with joy and laughter 🙂
2021 is the Year of the Metal Ox, the second animal in the 12-year zodiac rotation.
Oxen are the hard workers in the background, intelligent and reliable, but never demanding praise.
In Chinese culture, the Ox is a valued animal. Because of its role in agriculture, positive characteristics, such as being hardworking and honest, are attributed to it.
It’s a kind of literature. Chinese people like to write some dual and concise words on red paper to express their new year’s wishes. On the arrival of New Year, every family will paste couplets.
Family reunion dinner(Chinese: 团圆饭)
People traveling or residing in a place far away from home will back to their home to get together with their families.
Stay up late on New Year’s Eve(Chinese: 守岁)
It’s a kind of way for Chinese people to welcome New Year’s arrival. Staying up late on New Year’s Eve is endowed with auspicious meaning by people. The old do it for cherishing their past time, the young do it for their parents’ longevity.
Hand out red packets(Chinese: 发红包)
Elders will put some money into red packets, and then hand out to the younger generation during spring festival. In recent years, electric red packets are popular among the younger generation.Set off firecrackers
Chinese people think the loud sound of the firecrackers can drive away devils, and the fire of the firecrackers can make their life thriving in the coming year.
https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/ox/
https://www.topchinatravel.com/
