This year, we are looking to celebrate as much as we can, especially after all we’ve gone through in the past 365 days. February 12th marks the start of the week-long holiday that is the Lunar New Year — one of the largest celebrations, festivals, and occasions celebrated by the Asian community all around the world! If you’re interested in learning more about this special occasion, then just keep scrolling!
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The Lunar New Year happens anytime from January 21-February 20.
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The festival is celebrated, not just by China, but by other Asian countries including Vietnam, North and South Korea, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
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It goes by many different names. It has also been called the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival.
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This year is the Year of the Ox (zodiac). In Chinese culture, the ox represents hard work.
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The birth years of the Ox are 1937, 1949, 1961, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021. The personality traits that coincide with people born this year are diligent, gentle, hardworking, reliable, patient, materialistic, and stubborn.
Some project that this year will be the year of moving forward in dreams and work, a concept that is very different from the interrupted times we experienced in the last year.
Usually, the Lunar New Year is a big deal and celebrations are accompanied by hundreds, if not thousands of people. This year will be a little different in the wake of the global pandemic. Many people are expecting to do celebrations virtually, including virtual markets and conference tools for online dinners.
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The party starts a week before February 12. During the week leading up to the Lunar New Year, cakes and puddings are made. February 9 was the cleansing day. Then comes the feast on the big family reunion dinner that will take place on February 11. This dinner usually has a themed menu that evokes signs of luck (fish) and advancement (puddings). The Chinese word for ‘fish’ sounds like ‘surplus’ and the puddings look like gold. In the Vietnamese culture, the first 3 days of the New Year are meant for rest and celebration so people avoid cooking (they will cook before the first day of the Lunar New Year) or they will dine out.
The pinnacle of the event happens on the last day of this celebration, February 26, or China’s equivalent to America’s Valentine’s Day. This is the day when the young girls can go out and look at the lanterns and talk to boys. While these traditions may be a little different with COVID-19 precautions, you can still celebrate!
So how can we celebrate in the States?
Every family that celebrates has different traditions, much like every holiday does, but the main traditions remain:
1. DO be careful of arguing.
The third day of the year, Valentine’s Day this year, is known as ‘chi kou’ or ‘red mouth’. Be careful on this day because arguments are likely to happen (bad timing, right??)
2. DON’T wash or cut your hair on the first day of the year.
The Chinese associate hair with prosperity, so don’t wash or cut your fortune away!
3. DON’T buy shoes for the first month of the year.
The word for shoes sounds like ‘losing’ and ‘sighing’ in Cantonese.
4. DO wear red!
Red symbolizes good luck and prosperity, and we can take all of that this next year!
5. DON’T wear black or white.
Those are the colors associated with mourning.
6. DO give out money (or get it!).
Families will hand out red envelopes of money to their children, or anyone who is unmarried. This tradition started because people used coins to ward off the evil spirits.
7. DO set off Firecrackers!
Just like our New Year’s, the Lunar New Year is no stranger to fireworks! The tradition of setting off fireworks comes from wanting to ward off the ancient monster called Nian, but it’s also a fun way to celebrate!
8. DON’T forget to pay off all your debts before the New Year starts.
You don’t want to go into the next year with things weighing you down.
Enjoy your Lunar New Year!
Do you celebrate the Lunar New Year? Tell us in the comments!
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