Chinese New Year is celebrated by billions of people over the world, and it’s a wonderful time to shine the light on Chinese culture and the origins behind the Lunar New Year. The celebration itself is rich with traditions that date back centuries. One of the most obvious traditions is the naming of each year after an animal. As you’re probably well aware, this year is the Year of the Tiger. Aside from sounding pretty cool, what exactly does this mean? Today, we explore the Year of the Tiger in more detail, getting to the historical root, and diving into Chinese cultural traditions. 

Chinese New Year is celebrated by billions of people over the world, and it’s a wonderful time to shine the light on Chinese culture and the origins behind the Lunar New Year. The celebration itself is rich with traditions that date back centuries. One of the most obvious traditions is the naming of each year after an animal. As you’re probably well aware, this year is the Year of the Tiger. Aside from sounding pretty cool, what exactly does this mean? Today, we explore the Year of the Tiger in more detail, getting to the historical root, and diving into Chinese cultural traditions. 

What does Year of the Tiger mean?

The Chinese New Year is typically connected to one of twelve animals. These animals come from the zodiac animals, which have deep-rooted meanings in Chinese culture. Traditionally, there is an animal assigned to each year of the lunar calendar, and each animal has certain attributes. As there are twelve different animals, each one is assigned a year every twelve years. 

• Kind
• Adventurous
• Enthusiastic
• Aggressive
• Short Tempered
• Anxious
• Brave
• Courageous
• Strong

Furthermore, there are five different elements in the Zodiac system - water, wood, fire, metal, and earth. Every time there is a Tiger year, one of these elements gets applied to it to provide further context for people born within the year. This time, we are in a water Tiger year, which is the first of its kind since 1962. Anyone that is born during a water Tiger year is considered extremely loyal with very strong bonds between themselves and friends/family. 

What can people expect from the Year of the Tiger in 2022?

Those that celebrate the Chinese New Year are extremely pleased that the Year of the Tiger has come around again. It represents fearlessness and strength that can’t be matched, which is exactly what’s needed after a tough two years with an ongoing global pandemic. This year will be one that’s full of strength and perseverance for all, giving hope to people struggling during such challenging times. 

The importance of tea during the Chinese New Year

Like every year, the Year of the Tiger will involve a lot of tea drinking and ancient rituals. In fact, there is one ritual that should never be forgotten in Chinese households who celebrate. On the first day of the New Year, families gather together in the living room, with the eldest generation sitting in chairs. From here, the next generation will offer them sweet tea, standing and bowing towards them as a sign of respect and well-wishing. The receiver will then provide them with a red packet that typically contains money as a sign of well-wishing towards them. 

The history of tea in China

For generations, tea has been used throughout China to promote good physical and mental health, happiness, and so on. It is used to help with medical conditions and forms a core part of the traditional Chinese culture. Tea itself is strongly linked to many ancient philosophies - such as Buddhism and Taoism - and is considered one of the most essential additions to Chinese life. Some say that the history of tea in China is almost as long as the history of China itself as a nation. 

The journey begins with Shen Nung, a mythical person from Chinese culture that many people claim is the founder of tea. He accidentally brewed it when heating water under a tree, and some of the leaves fell into his cup, creating a drink that smelt and tasted delicious. From this moment on, tea was born in China - or so goes the legend!

There has been more concrete evidence to suggest that tea was around in China as early as 206 BCE, during the Han Dynasty. Scholars and researchers have concluded that this was the first sign of tea being used as medicine by wealthy individuals in society. Fast forward a little later to the Tang Dynasty - starting in 618 CE - and this is where tea became more popular. It was widely adopted by Buddhist monks because the caffeine content aided concentration during meditation. The popularity and availability of tea began to spread through China to the point where it became a powerful part of the culture.

The health benefits of tea

In 2022, many people still associate tea with good health. Indeed, it is known that various types of tea can be useful in aiding a catalog of health conditions. This association likely originated in China, where ancient Chinese medicine has used tea as a healthy medicine for generations. 

Tea was even consumed as an antidote to various poisons! Not only that, it was also originally drunk because it has a range of medicinal properties. There are plenty of nutrients and antioxidants in tea leaves that mean it can help with some of the following issues: 

• Poor Digestion
• Insomnia
• Anexiety
• Inflamation

In 2022, many people still associate tea with good health. Indeed, it is known that various types of tea can be useful in aiding a catalog of health conditions. This association likely originated in China, where ancient Chinese medicine has used tea as a healthy medicine for generations. 

For thousands of years within China, tea has been consumed to establish excellent overall health, as well as to promote happiness and a sense of calm. From Buddhist monks drinking it in the mountains, to regular citizens using it after dinner for better digestion, it’s a drink that is synonymous with both China and wellbeing. So, it’s no surprise that tea has become the second most widely consumed drink in the world, being beaten only by water!

Happy Year of the Tiger! We hope you are fearless, strong and adventurous, and enjoy some tea!