Chinese New Year opera means Chinese opera performed for Chinese New Year festival. In the older times, they were often performed on Chinese New Year markets (庙会). The audience presented some money voluntaryly to the opera classes. The bigger tea houses ordered opera shows all year round. On Chinese New Year festival they provided certainly some exciting opera programs to their customers. In addition, it was usual that rich families hired opera players to their homes to perform operas. It was also usual that people living in a same area, such as a village or a street, collect money to hire opera classes to play for them.
Although no opera program is written specially for Chinese New Year celebration, there have been many happy and festive and comedic traditional opera programs. These programs became perfect choices on Chinese New Year occasions. It was normal that people watched their favorite opera programs again and again, just like people today listen to their favorite music again and again. Appreciating the skills, appearances in custume and makeup, and voices of the opera players was an important part of watching opera.
Chinese traditional opera have met strong competition since 1980's. TV programs and film production thrive always well in the entertainment market. Compared with the modern arctic forms, Chinese traditional opera is too old. On another side, modern people are accustomed to quick life pace, both actions and plot advance of traditional opera are too slow for them. Traditional Chinese opera had almost disappeared from the daily life of Chinese people.
However, there have been always many people who can see the value of the old art form and work to save and protect it. Every year, Chinese Central TV station organizes Chinese New Year oepra Gala, in addition, they hold often programs to introduce the traditional opera programs and the knowledge about the art to people. There is additionally a CCTV channel specially made for Chinese opera. This channel holds not only professional and unprofessional opera shows but also opera competitions, opera courses, etc. Today more and more young people are able to understand the old art and appreciate its' artical charm.
Chinese traditional opera trives in the colorful entertainment market in China. On Chinese social media and Youtube man can find many fans of Chinese opera. Chinese opera shows is also a popular part of the grand Chinese New Year Gala of CCTV every year.