RT Office Closes for Chinese New Year

RT Office Closes for Chinese New Year

It’s time to ring in Chinese New Year again! RT office will be closed from January 31 to February 6 for the Chinese New Year which will fall on February 1 this year. Staff will resume work on Monday (February 7, 2022).

Since the 1990s, people in China will get seven days off from work for the Chinese New Year. However, some sectors, such as hotels and large retail outlets, stay open during the Chinese New Year and may even be busier than usual.

To celebrate Chinese New Year, many people travel back home to reunite with their families. On the most important day in the Chinese calendar, people eat, drink, cook, visit extended families and friends to exchange good wishes and red envelopes.

Traditionally, the celebrations of the Chinese New Year last for 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year’s Eve  to the Lantern Festival (this year from January 31 to February 15). Major celebrations held on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day include firecrackers/fireworks and dancing dragons. People decorate their houses with red or wear red clothes for good luck and children are given money in bright red envelopes.

Overseas Chinese celebrate Chinese New Year with their communities too, holding firecracker ceremonies, street parades, martial performances, etc.

Across East Asia, countries will also be celebrating a new year according to the same lunar calendar. Holidays in these countries as well as in Hongkong and Macao are usually 1 to 3 days.

Year of the Tiger

The Chinese Zodiac gives each year an animal sign.

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2022 is a Year of the Tiger. People born in a year of the Tiger are predicted to be brave, competitive, unpredictable, and confident. This year, Tigers will encounter their birth sign year and they are expected to face many challenges. Wearing red underwear and socks will help tigers ward off misfortune.

Origins of Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is thought to date back to the 14th century BC, when the Shang dynasty ruled.

Its origins are steeped in legend. One story says that a monster named Nian (“Year”) attacked villagers at the start of every year. Nian was afraid of loud noises, bright lights and the colour red. People used these things to chase the beast away.

Since the dragon is a Chinese symbol of power and good fortune, many areas of the country have dragon dancing, during which a long, colourful dragon puppet is paraded through the streets, as the highlight of festivities.

New Year is also the time when people clean their homes thoroughly to get rid of any bad luck left over from the old year.