Lunar New Year Celebrations

by a BMS Elementary family

The Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the new year based on the Lunar Calendar and is celebrated around the world. While the exact date varies each year, it typically falls in January or February. Each year of the Lunar Calendar is associated with one of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals: the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. These animals rotate in a fixed order. For example, 2025 will be the Year of the Snake, following the Year of the Dragon (2024), and the Year of the Horse will come next.

Lunar New Year is one of the most significant celebrations in several Asian countries, including China, South Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam. In China, it’s known as Chinese New Year or Chūnjié (春节). In Korea, it’s called Seollal (설날), and in Vietnam, it’s referred to as Tết Nguyên Đán (Tết). While the celebration typically begins on New Year’s Eve or the first day of the new year, customs vary between countries and even regions within the same country. Although the occasion has different names in different cultures, the essence remains the same— a time for family reunions and honoring ancestors.

Chinese New Year (春节, Chūnjié) Traditions

In China, Chūnjié spans 16 days, starting on the last day of December and culminating in Yuánxiāo Jié (元宵节), the Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the new lunar year. Depending on the movement of the moon, the number of days in December can vary. For example, 2024 had only 29 days in December, with New Year’s Eve (Chúxī, 除夕) falling on December 29th. Chinese people traditionally celebrate on Chúxī, the night before the new year.

Preparations and Festivities

In preparation for Chūnjié, families engage in thorough house cleaning to sweep away bad luck and make space for good fortune. Homes are then decorated with red and yellow symbols. Red represents luck, prosperity, and protection from evil, particularly the mythical monster Nián (年). Yellow, on the other hand, is associated with wealth and affluence. People often adorn their windows with chuānghuā (窗花) (paper cuttings) and hang couplets on their doors, wishing for a prosperous year ahead.

When it comes to food, regional differences play a significant role. In the northern regions of China, families typically prepare and enjoy dumplings on Chúxī. In contrast, people from the middle and southern regions of China indulge in a variety of dishes, but not dumplings. Besides food, firecrackers and fireworks are a staple of the celebration, believed to drive away bad luck and welcome a year of luck, prosperity, and happiness.

New Year’s Day and Beyond

On New Year’s Day, elderly family members give hóngbāo (红包), or red envelopes, filled with money to children, symbolizing the hope for good luck and fortune in the coming year. Following the first day, families often visit relatives and friends to exchange well wishes and celebrate together.

The final day of the Chūnjié celebrations is marked by Yuánxiāo Jié (元宵节), or the Lantern Festival. On this day, people enjoy yuánxiāo (元宵), glutinous rice balls filled with sweet fillings or meat, and participate in cāi dēngmí (猜灯谜), solving lantern riddles. Riddles are written on paper and attached to lanterns, creating an engaging and festive atmosphere. Another key tradition of Yuánxiāo Jié is the Lion Dance (舞狮, wǔshī) and Dragon Dance (舞龙, wǔlóng). The Lion Dance, typically performed by one or two people, and the Dragon Dance, which involves a group of performers, are both symbolic performances intended to chase away bad luck and invite prosperity for the year ahead. These dances embody collective strength and are believed to bring good fortune to all.

To sum up, the Lunar New Year is an important celebration observed by Asian communities around the world. Despite regional and cultural variations, the essence of the holiday is the same: a time to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new (辞旧迎新, cí jiù yíng xīn). It’s a time of renewal, family, and hope for a prosperous year ahead.

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous Year of the Snake!

Jessica Davis

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