Chinese New Year, or Imlek, falls today, Tuesday 17 February 2026.\nBehind the annual celebration lies a wealth of fascinating history,\nparticularly regarding how the date of Imlek is determined.<\/p>\n
So how is the date of Imlek established, and what are the origins of\nthe celebration? According to RD.com, the Chinese New Year celebration\nis based on the Chinese lunar calendar, which has been in use since the\n14th century BC during the Shang Dynasty. Unlike the Western calendar,\nthis calendar was readjusted each time a new emperor ascended to the\nthrone. Because its calculations follow the movements of the moon and\nthe solar solstice, the date of Chinese New Year shifts every year.<\/p>\n
Generally, Chinese New Year begins with the appearance of the new\nmoon, which typically occurs between late January and late February. The\ncelebrations continue until the Lantern Festival, when the full moon\nappears. The total duration is approximately 15 days, giving people\nample time to celebrate.<\/p>\n
Imlek Traditions<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the most distinctive traditions of the celebration is the\ngiving of red envelopes containing money. The origins of this custom\nhave several versions. According to the University of California,\nIrvine, one popular legend dates back to the Sung Dynasty. The story\ntells of an orphan who managed to defeat a great demon terrorising the\nvillage of Chain-Chieu.<\/p>\n As a mark of gratitude, the village elders gave him red envelopes\nfilled with money. Regardless of the story\u2019s origins, red envelopes\nremain an integral part of Chinese New Year celebrations to this\nday.<\/p>\n In addition to red envelopes, firecrackers are also synonymous with\nImlek. A writer named ShaoLan Hsueh once shared the legend behind this\ntradition. In the story, a fairy disguised as an old man saved a town\nfrom a fearsome monster by throwing bamboo sticks into a fire.<\/p>\n The crackling sound of the burning bamboo frightened the monster\naway. From this arose the belief that lighting firecrackers during Imlek\ncan ward off evil spirits.<\/p>\n Traditional Imlek Foods<\/strong><\/p>\n Chinese New Year celebrations are also closely associated with\ntraditional foods. The two most famous are dumplings and nian gao\n(sticky rice cake). The tradition of eating dumplings originates from\nnorthern China. Their crescent or round shape is thought to resemble\nancient Chinese coins, and they are therefore believed to bring good\nfortune into the home, as explained by NPR.<\/p>",
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