Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year fall on same day this year, a rare occurrence

Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year fall on same day this year, a rare occurrence

By Kelly Roncace

February 14, 2010, 4:17AM

This year, when two sweethearts romantically refer to each other as “tiger” on St. Valentine’s Day, it will have an entirely different meaning.

St. Valentine’s Day 2010 (today) falls on the same day as the Chinese New Year, which just happens to be the Year of the Tiger.

According to Dr. Elizabeth VanderVen, assistant professor of history at Rutgers University-Camden, the tiger represents courage and bravery. The Chinese believe the tiger protects their homes from three dangers: ghosts, fires and theft.

A rare happening, St. Valentine’s Day and the Chinese New Year have only coincided three times since 1900.

According to writer Carol Patton, the holidays won’t fall on the same day again until after 2030.

Patton said this could give couples, even those who are not of Chinese descent, some new traditions to explore on St. Valentine’s Day.

“Even if people aren’t Chinese, they can still use its traditions to attract new people, express their love to family and friends or even deepen their love with spouses or partners,” she said.

According to Patton, Chinese tradition says the color red helps to set the mood, so consider sprinkling red rose petals on pillows, or place the Chinese double happiness symbol under pillows for a romantic evening.

Or someone searching for a new love should make a list of all the physical and personality traits they want in a partner, and then burn the list in a fireplace or ceremonial bowl on the Chinese New Year so heaven will hear the wishes and respond, according to Chinese culture.

Ray Ally of www.rayally.com and X Ray: China said much of China’s Generation X/Y population are catching on to Western cultures and holidays such as Valentine’s Day.

Ally writes, the popularity of western holidays in China is driven by Internet savy 18- to 29-year-olds who want to experience the Western culture.

VanderVen said in China, Valentine’s Day is considered a “young person’s” holiday.

“Young people may be slightly pulled between whether to focus on family or their girlfriend or boyfriend or friends,” she said. “But my guess is that the Chinese New Year will trump Valentine’s Day.”

VanderVen said Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in the culture’s calendar.

“The Chinese calendar is one of the oldest calendar’s in history,” she said. “It’s one of the longest unbroken time sequences in history.”

She said, dating back to around 2953 B.C., the calendar is based on the lunar cycle.

“In simple terms, when the moon is full it’s considered a new month,” she said. “The New Year always falls between the end of January and Feb. 15.”

Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day have some things in common, though, such as colors and gifts.

“Red is the color of the new year,” VanderVen said.

People celebrating the new year tend to wear red, as well as those celebrating Valentine’s Day.

For the western holiday, red symbolizes love, but for the Chinese holiday red is lucky.

VanderVen said in China and Chinese communities here in the United States, people will try to harmonize the two holidays and celebrate them together.

“But to the Chinese, the New Year is the most important one,” she said. “The Chinese are very good at establishing compatibility and harmony.”