🎉Chinese New Year on February 1st

Chinese New Year is on Tuesday, February 1^st, 2022. Also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is celebrated at the second new moon following the Winter Solstice. Depending on the country, the celebrations can last for 15 days until the full moon. In 2022, this is from February 1^st to February 15^th.

Chinese New Year heavily influences the Lunar New Year celebrations of other countries in the world, such as the Losar of Tibet, Tết in Vietnam and the Korean Lunar New Year (Seollal). It is also observed in regions and countries with significant overseas Chinese or Sinophone populations, such as Taiwan, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Mauritius, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, 2022 is the Year of the Tiger (Chinese Year 4720). In addition to the 12 animals, the Chinese Zodiac also cycles through five elemental types (in order, Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, & Earth, making each animal and element a 60-year cycle. This is not only the Year of the Tiger, it’s the Year of the Water Tiger. Water Tiger Years: 1902, 1962, 2022, 2082. (If your birthday falls between Mid-January to Mid-February, you need to find out whether you are at the end of one year or the start of the New Year to determine your zodiac animal)

Water years bring out our emotions more than any of the other elements. Water Tigers are family-oriented and have wonderful interpersonal relationships. Though they’re extremely driven and can be brash, their goal is always to do what’s best for everyone, not just for themselves. Overall, this is a year for switching, building, or getting back into creative projects.

The Water Tiger Year will be a year of risk-taking and seeking adventure. We’re trying to find enthusiasm and progress again, both for ourselves and for others.

The Tiger is associated with Yang (masculine, active) energy. Tigers do things their own way and hate being told what to do. Expect things to rapidly change this year. Sudden disruptions in all aspects of our lives should be expected. Some of us will thrive through taking great leaps, while others might crash and burn. It’s important to follow our intuition and to keep our egos in check.

If you are born in any of the Years of the Tiger, traditionally, your zodiac sign’s year is the most unlucky. That being said, since 2022 is about fiercely pursuing passions for all of the signs, as a Tiger, you know how to go big or go home better than most. You may be rewarded for the bold risks you’re willing to take.

On January 31^st, make sure your house is tidy, the dust swept away outside the door by midnight (bad ills of 2021 swept away). Bang your pots and pans outside to ward off the bad spirits. Enjoy a nice meal with family (or if away from family at least eat a nice meal), enjoy your together time. Wish for good for the coming year.

No haircuts on New Year’s Day, Feb 1^st, wait until the day after and onwards, as you will cut your luck if you use sharp objects on your hair on NY’s Day, don’t cut up long noodles as you are cutting your luck. Wear bright colors on New Year’s Day (no black), eat lucky oranges and candies, red foods, like salmon, red apples, red fruit.

If you have young or unmarried children, married people, parents and elders give a lei sei or hong boa to each child/young person, which are red envelopes🧧 to wish them good wishes and, as you give to them, you say good things like: hope you have a good semester at school, hope you get good grades, hope you listen to the wise elders, etc.

What’s happening in Nashville for Chinese New Year, 2022?

Chinese New Year Gala (January 29, 2022)
Each winter, Greater Nashville Chinese Association (GNCA) presents the Chinese New Year Gala at Collins Alumni Auditorium of Lipscomb University. This event gathers friends and families of the Nashville area to welcome the Lunar New Year with Chinese traditions and foods. The Gala includes dinner and then performances: a wide range of traditional Chinese dances and demonstrations and the much-awaited “hongbao” (the red envelope giveaway).

Chinese New Year Celebration with CAAN (February 5, 2022)
Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville (CAAN) traditionally hosts the “Chinese New Year Celebration @ Hillsboro Village” at the Vanderbilt University’s Corner Park. The festive program includes jugglers, puppet shows, Chinese Yo-Yo, arts & crafts for kids, traditional Chinese dances, martial arts, and music. The event concludes with the Dragon Parade around the village. This event is free and open to the public of all ages. Everyone is encouraged to wear Chinese clothes, or red clothes to celebrate Chinese New Year in style.

Shifay Cheung