The Chinese New Year is a reference to the date of celebration of the new year adopted by several eastern nations that follow a traditional calendar different from the western one, the Chinese calendar.
The differences between the two calendars mean that, every year, the start date of each Chinese New Year falls on a different date in the western calendar.
The Chinese calendar is lunisolar: it takes into account both the phases of the moon and the position of the sun. The Chinese New Year begins on the night of the new moon closest to the day the sun passes through the fifteenth degree of Aquarius.
In 2023, this phenomenon occurs on January 22nd when the Year of the Rabbit begins.
The Chinese associate each new year with one of the twelve animals that would have answered the Buddha's call for a meeting. Only twelve would have presented themselves and, in gratitude, Buddha transformed them into the signs of Chinese astrology: rat, buffalo/ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, serpent/snake, horse, sheep/goat, monkey, rooster, dog/dog and the wild boar/pig.
Thousands of people celebrate Chinese New Year, following the lunar calendar. This is the most important festival on the Asian calendar, which originated in China, but is also celebrated in other countries in the region. The year 2023 is the Rabbit. The Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity. And therefore, it is believed that it will be a year full of peace and hope to celebrate with loved ones.