CNY – The Year Of The Tiger
Next week sees the start of the new Chinese New Year – The Year of the Tiger – Therefore, it’s time to share some facts and information about this annual celebration.
When
This year’s national public holiday in China starts on Monday 31st January and finishes on Sunday 6th February.
However, the celebrations last for around two weeks and close with the Lantern Festival, which is the 15th Lunar day of the new year.
Chinese New Year’s Day marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar, this year that’s next Tuesday – 1st February.
Chinese New Year is also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival.
Travel
The holiday period focuses very much around visiting family members. People often go to extraordinary lengths to be with their family during this period and travel back home from all corners of the globe. The days preceding Chinese New Year sees the the largest migration of people on the planet.
Traditions
One tradition is for individuals to thoroughly clean their houses prior to the event to ward off bad spirits and bad luck. During the Lantern Festival people decorate their homes and businesses with red lanterns, and parades line streets, where dancers create long, brightly coloured dragons that are believed to bring good luck.
Zodiac Animals
Every Chinese Lunar Year is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals. According to folklore, your animal year determines your personalty traits and characteristics.
2022 is the Year Of The Tiger, which symbolises strength, exorcising evils, and braveness.
People born in a year of the Tiger are brave, competitive, unpredictable, and confident. They are very charming and well-liked by others. But sometimes they are likely to be impetuous, irritable, and overindulgent.
Your Animal
Your animal is determined by the lunar year you were born. However, those born in the calendar months January to March will need closer inspection, as they may fall in the previous lunar year.
Rat – 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Ox – 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Tiger – 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
Rabbit – 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Dragon – 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Snake – 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Horse – 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Sheep – 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Monkey – 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Rooster – 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Dog – 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Pig – 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Supply Chain
Chinese export production during the holiday season usually suffers from a 2/3 week lag. Exporters, and their overseas customers, clamour to get urgent orders completed in factories prior to the break.
This rush period is further complicated by ocean freight carriers blanking sailings during this time, to align with the lower volume levels.
