Year Of The Rat

The Chinese New Year of 2020 falls on January 25th (Saturday), and the festival will last to February 8th, about 15 days in total. 2020 is a Year of the Rat according to Chinese zodiac. The commonly known New Year calendar counts from the New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival on February 8th, 2020. According to the old folk customs, the traditional celebration starts even earlier, from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. Chinese New Year dates vary slightly between years, but it usually comes during the period from January 21st to February 20th in the Gregorian calendar.

The dates change every year because the festival is based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The lunar calendar is associated with the movement of the moon, which usually defines traditional festivals like the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Day. The lunar calendar is also associated with 12 animal signs in the Chinese zodiac, so every 12 years is regarded as a cycle. 2020 is a Year of the Rat, while 2021 turns to be a Year of the Ox.
 

Traditional food celebrations range from families gathering around their steaming hotpots or tossing a raw fish salad called Yu Sheng! But in rural China and throughout the north and central plains, Chinese families will wrap the humble dumpling as a way to mark the eve of the Spring festival. 

May you enjoy this spring festival too with your loved ones in the new year of the mouse!