“Xīn jiā yú yì, xīn nì huó chāi.” Hearing this phrase, it is well understood that the Chinese New Year is once again approaching. This marks the celebration of the New Year for Chinese people around the world and is one of the grand festivals that has been passed down for a long time.
Chinese New Year, which has been celebrated for over 4,000 years, is an important day for the Chinese. It was historically known as “Chūn Jié,” meaning the Spring Festival, celebrated to welcome the spring season. In the past, during the winter, the land was covered in snow, making agricultural activities impossible. With the arrival of spring, when it became possible to cultivate crops again, the Chinese designated the first day of spring each year as an important day known as “Chinese New Year.”
Traditionally, the Chinese New Year celebrations begin on the eve of the 30th day of the 12th month in the Chinese lunar calendar, marking the end of the old year, while the 1st day of the 1st month is known as “Chūn yī,” or New Year’s Day, which signifies the first day of spring. Typically, people prepare for the celebrations a month in advance, thoroughly cleaning their homes from top to bottom. Windows are decorated with red paper bearing auspicious phrases such as “May you have peace and happiness,” “May you be prosperous,” and “May wealth flow in.”
Although it is a significant day for the Chinese, some employees at MON, who are of Chinese descent, also consider Chinese New Year as an auspicious day for Thais. Therefore, MON is organizing a Chinese New Year ceremony on February 9, 2024, aimed at bringing good fortune to all employees.