Chinese New Year 2022 … With Your Pet!

Are you celebrating Chinese New Year 2022 with all the colour, movement, food and culture that it entails? Is it a steadfast tradition in your family or circle, or have you never heard of it?

Whether you intimately know the tradition or it’s something that’s just jumped onto your radar, Chinese New Year is a wonderful, festive celebration that you’re bound to want to take part in in some way.

And what better way to celebrate than with your pawsome pet? We lay out exactly what Chinese New Year is, how it’s celebrated, and how to include your pet in some fun (and safe!) activities. Read on…

What is Chinese New Year 2022?

Chinese New Year is an annual 16-day festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year (duh). But instead of starting on 1 January, it starts on the second moon after the winter solstice.

This means that Chinese New Year is a different date every year. Kind of like how Easter shifts each year. In 2021, Chinese New Year was 12 February and in 2023 it’s going to be on 22 January. This year, it’s happening on 1 February.

Also known as the lunar new year or spring festival, it literally follows the moon’s orbit around earth. So, if you’ve ever been confused about why it shifts, now you know.😊

Every year has a new animal based on a 12-year cycle of animals that appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. And what do you know, 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. All cats can give a big purr of appreciation.

If you want to know more about Chinese New Year zodiac animals to see which one you are, check out our piece on Chinese New Year & Your Chinese Zodiac Animal Personality.

How is it celebrated?

Chinese New Year 2022 isn’t just celebrated in China. Other countries that follow the tradition include Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, North Korea, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam.

Globally, Chinese communities in virtually every country around the world celebrate the tradition. For example, check out all the celebrations that happened in South Africa in 2019 (before COVID hit, of course).

In New Zealand, we have our own sizeable Chinese community and celebrations. One of the biggest being the Auckland Lantern Festival that attracts around 30,000 tourists each year.

Traditionally, Chinese New Year is celebrated with lucky foods like dumplings, fish, longevity noodles, niangao (glutinous rice cakes), spring rolls and sweet rice balls.

People give gifts to each other, too! For friends, food and drink (tea, fruit baskets, tobacco etc.), for seniors, clothing (hats, gloves, scarfs etc.), and for kids, red envelopes with money, school supplies, toys, sweets and books. Lucky kids!

Red and gold are traditional Chinese New Year colours while black and white is generally avoided.

Celebrating Chinese New Year 2022 with your pet

So, how to get your pet involved in these wonderful celebrations?

Avoid

First off, it should be noted that Chinese New Year celebrations usually do involve fireworks and other noisy celebrations. As we all know, fireworks/noise and pets are not always a good combination so keep your pet away from any celebration where they’re happening.

If you happen to live close to a Chinese New Year event, follow our top tips on keeping your pets safe from fireworks. The same tips apply if you’re lucky enough to be close to a dragon dance with pounding drums and so on.

Give

Just as humans celebrate Chinese New Year by giving each other presents, gifts are a wonderfully positive way to get your doggo or cat in on the festive fun. Think of a beautiful gold and red harness, leash, pet bed or cat toy, for instance.

Here at PD Insurance, we’re BIG on writing about pet gifts. So check out our roundups:

Cat gifts. Here are our top picks for the home from cat scratchers and nest beds to artisanal cat toys!

Christmas gifts for cats and dogs These gifts are great for any time of the year, not just Christmas!

Cat toys. Favourites for keeping kitty entertained and occupied while sparking her senses.

Ethical Christmas gifts for pets. Purrfect for Christmas or Chinese New Year 2022.

Pamper your pet. Don’t want more stuff? Opt to pamper your pooch or kitty instead.

Food spoils

Another delightfully delicious way to spoil your pet this Chinese New Year 2022 is with food!

Unfortunately, Fido or Felix can’t eat most of the traditional Chinese foods enjoyed by humans, which is why we have a list of easy pet-friendly swaps you can make!

Instead of: Bakwa
Bakwa, or barbequed pork, is a staple of any Chinese New Year. It’s very high in fat and salt, however, and thus not great for your pet!
Try instead: Friskies Party Mix Meow Luau Crunch Cat Treats or Acana Yorkshire Pork Dog Treats

Instead of: Nuts
Chinese New Year includes a lot of nuts. They’re enjoyed as snacks and sprinkled into many traditional dishes. As we all know, the presence of aflatoxin in nuts can be dangerous for pets.
Try instead: Happypet Venison Jerky Pet Treats

Instead of: Yu Sheng
Yu Sheng is a traditional Chinese dish made of raw fish, shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments. The inclusion of artificially sweetened and salted condiments make it a not so great option for pets.
Try instead: Omega Plus King Salmon Bites Pet Treats

Side note: Here’s a look at the Moon Festival, a fun holiday you can celebrate with your pet. Check out the article ‘How to Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival With Your Pet‘ to learn more.

Pet insurance for a very festive Chinese New Year 2022

Kick off Chinese New Year 2022 right with a pet insurance plan that will cover them forever. Whether your pup accidentally eats a grape or your cat gets into a fight, the unexpected can happen anytime.

Pet insurance covers a wide range of pet health costs like prescription medication, surgery and the basics like visits to the vet. Plus, with PD Insurance you can get free cat insurance or dog insurance – the amount of which depends on your pet’s age.

And as they say in Chinese, “Xin nian hao!”

Happy Chinese New Year 2022!