How to celebrate the Chinese New Year in 2022 - the year of the Water Tiger
Quick overview:
- Chinese New Year takes place in late January to early February every year and runs for two weeks
- Preparations and time spent with family, eating meals together and honouring ancestors all play a big part in the celebrations
- Each year brings a new energy in line with the Chinese zodiac. 2022 brings in the ambitious energy of the go-getter Water Tiger
As you’re getting into the swing of the New Year you may be wondering if there’s anything exciting coming up in your calendar. Don’t forget about Chinese New Year that falls in late January or early February every year. Everyone is welcome to join in and visit their local Chinatown. If you can’t make it on the day, don’t worry - the celebrations stretch on for two weeks! So, why not check out how your local community is celebrating Chinese New Year and welcome in the Year of the Water Tiger in 2022?
What is Chinese New Year and how is it celebrated?
Like so much of Chinese culture, Chinese New Year has roots that go back over 3,000 years. Although Chinese New Year's Eve falls on January 31st in 2022, celebrations continue right up until the 15th of February, ending with the visual feast that is the Lantern Festival. It’s not just about the fireworks and colourful decorations. This is a time that’s traditionally set aside in the Chinese calendar to celebrate and carve out time with friends and family near and far – enjoying good food together is also a big part of this! The celebrations start with cleaning the house and shopping for Chinese New Year supplies up to seven days before Chinese New Year’s Eve. Then, on Chinese New Year’s Eve, families put up spring couplets (poetry written vertically in either black or gold on red paper), enjoy a meal together, give red envelopes or ‘lucky money’ to children and stay up late. On Chinese New Year’s Day, fireworks and firecrackers are an important part of the celebrations, along with offerings to the ancestors.
Chinese New Year is a time to celebrate ancestors
Honouring the ancestors is an essential part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Family members that have passed over are considered to still be present with their living family in spirit. They watch over their loved ones and hear their prayers and communication. So, when Chinese New Year comes around, acknowledgement of the ancestors and gratitude for influencing your family’s good fortune is a significant part of the tradition.[1] Paying tribute to ancestors takes place in the form of a dinner that includes the favourite dishes of the ancestors and other dishes of significance. As this time is both private and sacred, these tributes take place in the family home. A joss stick – a type of incense - serves as a way of greeting and communing with the spirits of the ancestors before the offerings of food are put forward. After the excitement of Chinese New Year’s Day, celebrations continue for another seven days, mostly by way of visiting friends and family. The 15th day marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Families visit the Lantern Festival to watch the beautiful floating lights and fireworks displays and eat dumplings, of course.
What is 2022 in the Chinese zodiac?
Starting from February 1st 2022 and ending January 31st 2023, we will be in the year of the Water Tiger. In Chinese culture, the tiger is an ancient animal that represents dignity, bravery, strength, courage and ferocious energy. The tiger is used as a symbol of protection and security in Chinese homes. This fearsome feline is also associated with Tsai Shen Yeh, the Chinese God of Wealth.[2]
Similar to western astrology with the 12 star signs that cycle through the 12 months of the year, in Chinese astrology there are 12 signs that cycle through 12 years. The Tiger is the third sign in the Chinese zodiac - the last time we were in a Tiger year was in 2010, before that 1998, 1986, 1973, 1962, 1950, and 1938. So, if anyone you know was born in one of those years, be sure to wish them a happy Tiger New Year.
If you were born in one of these years, keep reading to learn more about the Tiger personality traits and the energy of 2022.[2]
The energy of 2022 according to the Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, each year is also attached to one of the five elements - either earth, fire, water, wood or metal. Following on from the Year of the Metal Ox, a yin energy, we are now in the yang energy of the Water Tiger. Yang is a masculine, active, hot, ‘onward and upward’ type of energy. The water element brings a greater sensitivity and introversion to any of the 12 signs it is attached to.
After a full year of the world slowing down, going inwards, planting seeds and tending to the here and now, 2022 is a time for action, forward movement and expansion. You may find this year goes quickly with all the ambitious plans you map out and goals you achieve. There’s a sense of agitation to get things done which is likely to be spurred on by the general stagnation of 2021.
While multiple projects may have been put on the backburner, the challenge will be to pick out the most important projects to complete now. Don’t try to do everything all at once or you’ll risk burning out and doing a less than stellar job. While tigers are known for their precision and focus, they’re also known for their playfulness. Balance the intensity with play - even if it is on the more energetic or impulsive side.
Take the lessons about rest and recovery that you learned in 2021 into 2022 to balance out the energies. Remember that too much yang can cause a ‘yin deficiency’, which can leave you feeling overheated, overstimulated and unable to rest and recover.[3] If you’re moving into 2022 having overdone it over the holiday period, try the Chinese medicine approach to getting back into balance.
The lucky colours for the Water Tiger Year of 2022 are red, blue, green and yellow - try to include more of these colours in your house or wardrobe as much as possible.
The potential health issues that can face Tiger signs will be something for everyone to keep in mind in 2022. Tiger signs are prone to minor coughs and colds that can get worse if rest is not prioritised. You may be in a rush to get things done but be sure to eat slowly to prevent indigestion. Being busy and easily distracted could end in accidents and injuries in 2022. Make sure you’re aware of your surroundings while you’re kicking goals this year.[4]
The Tiger personality
Each of the five elements alters the characteristics of the zodiac sign they are attached to. The Tiger sign personality is considered to have great confidence and self-esteem with a mind for learning new things.[2] Tigers are generous, ambitious and committed to helping others. Much like the animal, Tiger signs love their space and freedom to roam.
The strength of the Tiger sign lies in their charm, leadership abilities, sense of responsibility and honesty. They are also energetic, determined and hardworking.
The weaknesses of the Tiger personality are the flipside of their strengths - the need for freedom and space can lead to rebellion and isolation, while too much self-confidence may rub people the wrong way. An overblown sense of pride can lead Tiger personalities to not take constructive criticism well. The drive and ambition of the Tiger personality can also develop into a single-minded determination that can be viewed as selfish or ruthless.
People with a water element to their Chinese zodiac sign are considered to be ‘introspective artists’, empathetic, loving, passive and dreamy. This element doesn’t put out the Tiger’s innate fire, but it does turn down the intensity a little.[5]
Water Tigers are more family-focused and love their peace and quiet. Although they possess the Tiger’s tendency for brutal honesty, they care deeply about their loved ones and can be more caring and sympathetic than they let on. The biggest struggle of the Water Tiger is their indecision, impatience and their difficulty with taking on well-meaning advice.[4]
Fusion is built on the principles of ancient Chinese wisdom to achieve harmony in mind, body and spirit. Celebrating the Chinese New Year is one of our favourite ways to honour the ancient wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine that we all can benefit so much from.
From the Fusion family to yours, Happy Chinese New Year – we hope it’s filled with rewards, abundance and delicious food!
References:
- Nations Online. Chinese New Year’s Festivities: New Year’s Eve. Accessed November 2021 from https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/cny-new-years-eve.htm
- China Culture. Discover the deeper meanings behind tiger. Accessed November 2021 from http://en.chinaculture.org/focus/focus/2010spring/2010-01/26/content_367622.htm
- Wu Wei Wisdom. How to rebalance your yin + yang energy. Accessed November 2021 from https://www.wuweiwisdom.com/balance-yin-yang-qi-energy/
- Chinese New Year. Year of the Tiger. Accessed November 2021 from https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/tiger/#five-elements
- Pure Wow. (2021). Chinese Zodiac Elements: How to Know What Yours Is and What It Means. Accessed November 2021 from https://www.purewow.com/wellness/chinese-zodiac-elements
