Chinese New Year, also called Tet Festival in its Vietnamese form, or Spring Festival, is celebrated in all countries where Chinese diasporas live.
Suffice to say that there are many of them, and that the party promises to be colorful.
When is Chinese New Year 2024?
The traditional Chinese calendar is called lunisolar, meaning that the months begin with a new moon.
Based on this lunar calendar, the date of the New Year therefore varies from one year to the next.
It is set on the second new moon after the winter solstice, and therefore falls, according to the Gregorian calendar, between January 21 and February 19.
In 2024, Chinese New Year is celebrated on February 10.
When to wish Chinese New Year in China?
In Asia, the New Year is associated with the upcoming arrival of spring.
Originally, it was an agricultural celebration, during which the peasants saw the return of good weather, and with them, the sowing season.
In China, the event gives rise to two weeks of festivities, from New Year's Eve (New Year's Eve) to the Lantern Festival, on the 15th day of the lunar calendar (i.e. February 24, 2024), including a week of official holidays (from February 10 to 17, 2024).
What is the animal of this new year?
In 2024, the Chinese New Year is under the sign of the wooden dragon.
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Each year is placed under the sign of one of the twelve animals of the zodiac, associated with an element: wood, fire, earth, metal or water.
It is said that the astral situation is favorable and that the year will be particularly successful for the sign of the year.
In 2024, the Chinese New Year is under the sign of the wooden dragon.
Admired for its strength, the dragon, the only imaginary animal of the animals of the zodiac, is in Chinese culture a symbol of power, prosperity and success, also luck, but also wisdom.
The element in the spotlight, wood, will bring calm and serenity, gentleness and empathy.
Also read: When to go to China?
Weather, climate, seasons… The best period by region
Where to see Chinese New Year in Paris?
The largest parade in the capital takes place between Avenue de Choisy, Porte de Choisy and Avenue d'Ivry.
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France celebrates in the colors of China.
On the program: parades, dances and music, exhibitions and workshops, conferences, exotic markets and special menus in restaurants.
The neighborhoods of Paris with an Asian community organize grandiose parades, complete with dragons and Bengal lights.
The 13th arrondissement is at the forefront, with exhibitions, shows and concerts (from February 8 to 25, 2024).
Cradle of a large Chinese community, the Asian district orchestrates the largest parade in the capital, between Avenue de Choisy, Porte de Choisy and Avenue d'Ivry.
An explosion of colors, lion and dragon dances, with lots of music, traditional costumes, drums and cymbals (Sunday February 18, 2024 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.).
But because Paris is a celebration, other districts are adorned with the colors of China: the Marais since Sunday January 22, Belleville since the beginning of February but also République and the Faubourg Saint-Honoré (parade of artists and percussionists , Tuesday February 13, 2024 from 1:30 p.m.).
The whole of Île-de-France wears the colors of China, particularly Seine-Saint-Denis.
Aubervilliers sets off a procession led drumming by dragons (Wednesday February 14, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.).
And Noisy-le-Grand is planning shows and activities at the Asian village of the Michel-Simon space (Sunday February 25, 2024), and a parade (from 3:30 p.m.).
Massy, in Essonne, celebrates the Vietnamese New Year instead, with the Têt festival at the Massy Opera (Sunday February 18, 2024).
On display: shows, dress parade, games, stands and culinary specialties.
Why red in Chinese New Year?
Lion dances are part of Chinese New Year folklore.
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In Chinese folklore, Nian is an evil animal with the head of a lion and the body of a bull, set in motion during lion dances.
Legend has it that he approached towns to terrorize the inhabitants.
They then lit torches and firecrackers, and displayed red decorations (paper ribbons, lanterns, etc.) to keep away this monster frightened by color.
Where to see Chinese New Year in the region in France?
The Halle aux Toiles de Rouen combines parade and entertainment on Saturday February 17, 2024. The parade leaves the hall at 3:30 p.m., and workshops are organized all afternoon (from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) at the Confucius Institute of Neoma Business School (on registration).
In Rennes, Chinese week began on January 31 and runs until February 11, 2024. On the menu: exhibitions and concerts.
The party is at its peak on Saturday February 3, 2024: the parade sets off at 12 p.m. from Place de la Mairie, punctuated by lion and dragon dances, and a food market concocts a culinary journey from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Confucius Institute of Brittany.
In Villeneuve-d'Ascq, you can get your hands dirty in the workshops of the Marianne room (Sunday February 11, 2024 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.): painting, calligraphy,
hanfu
(traditional clothing) testing, but also shows for children, and food tastings… Chinese of course.
The party doesn't stop there!
Also meet in Montpellier (exhibitions the first half of February), Bordeaux (lion and dragon dances and parade, Sunday February 11 from 2:30 p.m. on the Place de la Victoire), Angers (conferences, events and concerts at the Confucius Institute of Pays de la Loire, from February 8 to 29, 2024), Toulouse (workshops, demonstrations and shows at the Raymond VI Garden, Sunday March 3, 2024)...