We’re only just celebrating New Year and marked the start of 2018 – but in just a few weeks it will be time to light your firecrackers ready to celebrate another New Year.
The Chinese Zodiac New Year begins on February 16 and brings the Year of the Dog to Newcastle and the North East.
As always, Newcastle will be alive with colour and celebration as people flock to Chinatown on Stowell Street to help ring in Chinese New Year.
Hundreds of people are expected to watch performances including lion and dragon dances, parades and live music as well as enjoying firecrackers, Chinese lanterns and seasonal foods. And we always enjoy receiving your photos of the events.
The Chinese New Year 2018 falls on Friday, February 16 and Newcastle will host the biggest celebrations in the region.
There are lots of customs and traditions – but how much do you actually know about Chinese New Year? And what date does it fall on this year?
How many days until Chinese New Year?
Begins in
When is Chinese New Year 2018?
This year, the Chinese New year begins on Friday, February 16 and lasts for 15 days.
The Newcastle celebrations take place on Sunday, February 18, around Chinatown on Stowell Street between 11am and 4pm.
Why does the date change every year?
The new years follow the Chinese lunar calendar, which means that Chinese New Year falls on different days each year and coincides with the black, or new, moon in January or February.
It then goes on for 15 days, until the next full moon. It’s all about regeneration and new life – hence its other name of the Spring Festival. Chinese New Year falls on the first day of the new moon which begins in either late January or February.
What is the story behind Chinese New Year?
The Chinese New Year has been associated with the Chinese Zodiac since the Spring Autumn Period (771 to 476 BC).
The Chinese Zodiac runs on a cycle of 12 years, which each year being named after an animal. The 12 animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. People are said to hold similar personality traits to the animal named after the year they were born.
2018 will be the Chinese Year of the Dog, following on from 2017's year of the Rooster, 2016’s year of the Monkey, 2015’s year of the Sheep, 2014’s year of the Horse and 2013’s year of the Snake.
What are the typical Chinese New year traditions?
Traditions differ, but the main message of Chinese New Year is for families to come together and wish each other peace and prosperity for the year ahead. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, families will gather together for the ‘family reunion dinner’ and gifts are exchanged.
One Chinese New Year tradition involves the older generation handing out red pockets (Hong Bao) filled with lucky money. These pockets are usually handed out to children or adults that are not married.
Throughout the Chinese New Year celebrations the colour red, a symbol of good luck and prosperity, plays an important part. Red decorations and lanterns are prominent in the streets, homes and offices throughout the celebrations.
The less enjoyable side of the customs is cleaning - sweeping is meant to rid the house of evil spirits, but families put away brooms on Chinese New Year’s Day to ensure they don’t accidentally sweep away good luck too.
How do you say Happy New Year in Chinese?
Kung Hei Fat Choi (gōng xǐ fā cái) is a traditional Chinese New Year greeting meaning ‘Congratulations and best wishes for a prosperous New Year! Happy New Year.’
Where’s the best place to go in the North East to get involved in Chinese New Year 2018?
The centre of Newcastle’s Chinese New Year 2018 celebrations will be Stowell Street in Chinatown, which is where the dances take place and venues open their doors with activities such as Chinese arts and crafts.
Remember to send us your photographs!
We would love to feature readers' photos of the celebrations in a gallery and possibly in print in the Chronicle too. Just email community@ncjmedia.co.uk with your name and where the picture was taken. You can also share your photos with us on our Facebook page or by tweeting us at @ChronicleLive.