It’s Chinese New Year, a time that marks the start of the new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. Referred to as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year, this celebration is recognised all over the world.
2019 will be the year of the pig, the twelfth of the zodiac animals, which is a symbol of wealth and fortune in Chinese culture. Chinese culture has brought many things to the world throughout the ages, including the luxury highly-sought after fabric, silk.
Here at Jasmine Silk, we uphold the belief that China is home to the best silk in the world, and we maintain these high standards. To celebrate the quality of Chinese silk and the New Year, we’ve put together 10 interesting facts about this special time, alongside 10 about silk.
It’s the Longest Chinese Holiday
Chinese New Year is the longest holiday around in Chinese culture. It technically lasts 15 days, but celebrations begin on New Year’s Eve, making the holiday last 16 days. Some say the holiday season begins in December with the Laba Festival. Taking that into account, Chinese New Year lasts around 40 days.
Silk Fact #1 – Silk fibres are incredibly long. Although the length of silk fibres varies, silk fabrics are spun from one long continuous strand and can measure around 600 to 900 metres long. Using one continuous strand gives you the best results.
Celebrations Exist All Around the World
Although it is a very traditional Chinese festival, Chinese New Year is celebrated not just in Asia, but all over the world. London, San Francisco, Sydney and many more cities offer exciting celebrations so that Chinese New Year can be enjoyed by the masses.
Silk Fact #2 – The production of silk was kept a secret from the rest of the world for a very long time. Legend has it that it was kept a secret for several thousand years and smuggling silk secrets outside of China, was punishable by death.
You Decorate in Red
It is tradition to decorate your home in red for Chinese New Year. One legend says that a monster called Nian would come to the villages on New Year’s Eve and eat the crops, and even the children. But, one brave boy fought this legendary monster by scaring it away with firecrackers. But, firecrackers aren’t the only thing that supposedly scared the monster away. Wearing and decorating in red is symbolic for keeping the monster Nian away, which is why it is used so much in Chinese culture.
Silk Fact #3 – Silk comes in all colours. Depending on their diet, silkworms can produce silk in many different colours. Usually, silk cocoons are yellow, white, or even pale pink or green. But, thanks to the wide production of silk in bedding and clothing, you can find silk in a rainbow of colours.
Every Year Has a Zodiac Animal
You may be familiar with western horoscopes which include 12 zodiacs. Similarly, there are 12 Chinese signs of the zodiac too, although these animal symbols are for an entire year. Although the positive traits of each zodiac are bestowed upon those born that particular year, when your year comes around again it is actually seen as bad luck.
Silk Fact #4 – Although often to referred to as silkworms, the animal that produces silk is actually the caterpillar of a moth; the Bombyx mori, Latin for “silkworm of the mulberry tree”.
It Has Other Names
Chinese New Year has many names. You may hear it often being called the Spring Festival because although it is a wintry time, it marks the end of the coldest days and the beginning of spring and what that brings. It is symbolic for new beginnings and fresh starts.
Silk Fact #5 – The production of silk has a technical name and is actually called ‘sericulture’. This term refers to the rearing of silkworms for the production of the silk fabric.
There’s No Set Date
In 2019, the date for Chinese New Year is Tuesday 5th February. But, it goes according to the lunar calendar. The Lunar calendar says that the Spring Festival occurs on the 1st January and lasts until the 15th, which is when the full moon is. Calculating the date can be tricky, but the date usually falls between 21st January and 20th February.
Silk Fact #6 – Silk dates all the way back to approximately 3000BC. Some say a Chinese princess discovered silk in 2640 BC when a silk cocoon fell into her cup of tea and unravelled because of the heat.
It Lasts for 15 Days
Chinese New Year is a long celebration that lasts 15 says. It is tradition to spend time with your family, but you can go out after the 5th day. Because the vast majority of stores close for this length of time, people have to stock up on food, gifts and clothes.
Silk Fact #7 – A silkworm takes about three days to make a silk cocoon.
People Spend a lot on Fireworks
Because of the Nian legend, Chinese New Year is celebrated with a lot of fireworks and firecrackers, traditionally used to scare the monsters away and bad luck too. Many people buy firecrackers to set off at midnight on New Year’s Eve, and some use them again in the morning to welcome the new year.
Silk Fact #8 – For a period of time, silk was used as a method of payment and subjects who had provided outstanding services were rewarded in silk by the government. Farmers paid taxes in silk, civil servants received silk salaries, and it was a common trading currency between China and other countries.
Everyone Gets One Year Older
In China, you have two ages. Your real age is the one we all know about, where you grow one year older on the day you were born. But, you also have another age, where everyone grows a year older at Chinese New Year.
Silk Fact #9 – Silk can improve the effects of ageing, because of it’s moisturising properties. The super soft fabric and tightly woven fibres keep moisture close to the skin. That’s why silk is often used in pillowcases and beauty products. Sleeping on a silk pillowcase will keep the skin on your face moisturised throughout the night, improving signs of wrinkles and dark circles.
There is Traditional Cuisine
There are many Chinese dishes associated with the Spring Festival. Many people eat dumplings for their New Year’s Eve dinner, while others like to eat them for breakfast. Other foods that are traditional at this time include spring rolls, tangyuan and much more.
Silk Fact #10 – Silkworms live on a diet of mulberry leaves which helps them to produce extremely high-quality silk.
To learn more about silk, be sure to visit the rest of our blog. Or, to explore the range of silk products we have to offer, go to Jasmine Silk’s website. We offer all things silk from bedding to clothing to accessories, maintaining the high standards of silk production set by China long ago.
