Chinese New Year is the most important
traditional holiday in China. The
new year is under the sign of the water
tiger. As a water element, it stands
for spontaneity and novelty.
MBS Speditionsgesellschaft is a globally
active medium-sized company
with strong Asian expertise. Reason
enough for us to look to the East and learn
more about the Year of the Tiger. Our
colleague Sophie Liu from MBS Xiamen
was on hand to answer our questions:
The Chinese New Year is considered the
most important traditional festival. What
makes it so special?
Exactly. It is the most important traditional
holiday in China and so special to the
Chinese that it is not just a holiday, but
an important cultural celebration. A festival
where the Chinese family comes together,
shares happiness and celebrates
the harvest together, it is a festival full of
joy and happiness. It is a festival to draw
strength for the coming year.
Why does the New Year always fall on a
different day?
This is because in China the lunar calendar
is used as the traditional calendar,
which is different from the solar calendar
(Western calendar). Our calendar has
been continuously improved, enriched
and perfected over the millennia, so that
today it is used as the lunar calendar. The
lunar calendar is essentially a lunisolar
calendar, focusing on the cycle of the
moon's movement while balancing the
cycle of the earth around the sun.
According to the lunar calendar, every
year in January, the first lunar month, is
the Spring Festival. So it is a different day
each year from the western calendar, but
the same day in the lunar calendar. In
fact, many of the traditional festivals in
China are calculated according to the
lunar calendar. For example, the Double
Ninth Festival, the Ching Ming Festival
(Tomb Sweeping Festival), the Dragon
Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival
are all based on the lunar calendar.
When do preparations for this special day
begin?
Usually one week before the Spring Festival.
In the countryside, people even start
preparing cured meat and fish, such as bacon
and smoked fish in the west, a month
before. Everyone buys the necessities and
all kinds of meat, flowers, clothes and prepares
the gifts for old people and children.
What role does the colour red play?
The colour red is very popular in China.
On our Chinese New Year's Day, we hang
red lanterns at the entrance of the house
and wear red clothes with red scarf and
gloves. The colour red represents joy,
hope, happiness and promise. Our country's
flag is red, so we also call the colour
red China red to wish our motherland
prosperity and progress, day after day.
The year 2022 is under the sign of the water
tiger. What does this mean?
According to the 2022 Chinese horoscope,
the Tiger is the ruling sign of the
zodiac from the day of the 2022 Lunar
New Year and throughout the Chinese
lunar year. The water element in its Yang
form is the main source of energy in the
Chinese calendar in 2022.
The New Year symbolises spontaneity
and novelty. It is synonymous with unforeseen
changes and surprising developments.
For the 12 Chinese zodiac signs,
it is time to do their best to significantly
improve their living conditions. It is also
a good time for those who want to forget
their stormy past, heal their wounds and
find a legitimate place in society.
In traditional Chinese astrology, the
water tiger is the least ruthless of the five
possible tiger types. Yet he loses none
of his strength and quick wits. This internalised
fiery tiger is especially known for
its purifying qualities. The ability to rid a
structure or an organism of its impurities
is also favoured by the positive influence
of the water tiger. ■
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR
Kontakt / Contact
Sophie Liu
Deputy General Manager, China
MBS Logistics Xiamen
sophie.liu@mbslogistics.com
Photo: © Adobe Stock - Siam Vector
INSIGHT 1 . 2022 15
link