Why people wear red jackets and jumpers in Chinese New Year?

Beginning on Sunday, January 22, the Chinese Lunar New Year signals the start of the Year of the Rabbit, the fourth sign in the 12-animal zodiac.

Lasting until February 9, 2024, this year will celebrate the symbolically significant rabbit - known for their deftness, cautiousness and competitive nature in Chinese culture.

The allocated qualities can be traced back to the origin story thought to have created the Chinese zodiac, where 12 animals were challenged with a race to the gates of heaven.

Each sign of the Chinese zodiac found in the story 'rules' over an entire year, bringing with it particular energy to everything that occurs over the next 12 months.

The year of the Rabbit is highly anticipated to signal good fortune for those born in the years, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, and 2023.

Review: All you need to know about the Year of the Rabbit!

Following the example of the Rabbit, people are hoping that 2023 is to be a year of drive and ambition in the quest to find resolutions to any

predicament that may present itself.

The spirit of the rabbit is certainly fitting as it is the first time people in China can truly enjoy the celebrations without the shadow of Covid lockdowns hanging over them.

In China, people wear red jackets and jumpers to the streets, buy red lanterns and paper-cuttings and write couplets to decorate their homes and even prepare red steamed buns to be eaten during family dinners.

Colours play a poignant role in Chinese culture as they represent multiple qualities and ideas that were formed over thousands of years ago. 

Red is known as China's good luck color, believed to scare away spirits of bad fortune.

The Chinese festivity's importance lies within its history - yet it still remains the most important occasion for generations of families to reunite and spend time together.

Source:

Editor: CH

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