Celebrating Lunar New Year

Happy Chinese Lunar New Year everyone!

In honour of this special start of the year, we've compiled some information from history.com so you can learn more about this special celebration:

Beginnings of Chinese Lunar New Year

• The ancient Chinese calendar dates back to at least as early as 14th century B.C.


• The calendar's structure was reset according to which emperor held power.


• The Chinese calendar was structured according to the sun and moon.


• Yin and yang, the opposing but complementary principles that make up a harmonious world, also ruled the calendar, as did the Chinese zodiac, the cycle of twelve stations or "signs" along the apparent path of the sun through the cosmos.


• Each new year was marked by the characteristics of one of the 12 zodiacal animals: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

Traditional Chinese Lunar New Year customs

• New Year was traditionally the most important festival in the Chinese calendar. During this time, business life came nearly to a stop, and people focused on their families.


• In preparation for the holiday, homes were thoroughly cleaned to appease the gods who would be coming down from heaven to make inspections.


• Ritual sacrifices of food and paper icons were offered to gods and ancestors.


• People posted scrolls printed with lucky messages on household gates and set off firecrackers to frighten evil spirits.


• Elders gave out money to children.


• On New Year's Eve, the extended family would join around the table for a meal that included as the last course a fish that was symbolic of abundance and therefore not meant to be eaten.


• In the first five days of the New Year, people ate long noodles to symbolize long life.


• On the 15th and final day of the New Year, round dumplings shaped like the full moon were shared as a sign of the family unit and of perfection.

Western influence 

• The Western-style Gregorian calendar arrived in China along with Jesuit missionaries in 1582.


• It began to be used by the general population by 1912, and New Year's Day was officially recognized as occurring on January 1.

Head over to one of these YMCA centres to experience Lunar New Year for yourself:

Markham YMCA - Jan. 25th at 10 a.m

Events include:
- Vendors market and “Taste of Markham”
- Performance by Air Cadets Band
- Lions dance
- Tai chi and taekwondo demonstrations

Scarborough YMCA - Feb. 9 at 11 a.m.

- Tai chi demonstration
- Karate demonstration
- Shaolin kung fu demonstration
- Wing Chun demonstration
- Chinese dancing
- Lions dance
- Games