06/02/2025
What is The Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year originates from the Chinese, Tibetan, Buddhist, and Hindu calendars. The Lunar new year is officially recognized in Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, and is celebrated by millions all over the world.
Lunar New Year follows the phases of the moon, and is the basis for the 12 year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac. This year we are celebrating the Year of the Snake. While associated with evil and temptation in Western cultures, snakes are also associated with harvest, fertility, spirituality, and fortune in Chinese culture. All over the world, Lunar New Year is celebrated with parades, fireworks, paper lanterns, and celebrations in the street.
In Vietnam, Lunar New Year is celebrated by decorating your home in the lucky colors of red and yellow, setting up floral arrangements, buying trays of fruits, seeds and nuts, and purchasing a branch of the Mai tree, which produces a beautiful flower. This is representative of a Vietnamese legend surrounding the new year called Hoang Mai, which tells the story of a young girl who protected her village from a monster. The gods then turned her into a tree that blossoms with yellow flowers. On the day of the new year, children are sent outside to ring a bell, and it is believed that the first person to come to your home in the new year should be pure of heart.
In Korea, Lunar New Year is celebrated by wearing traditional Korean garments and clothes and going to visit elderly family members. Once people go to meet with their elderly family members, they perform ceremonies and rituals to honor and thank their ancestors. The rest of the celebration is filled with food, exchanging gifts, and family games. After the food and games are over, the day is filled with stories and mementos of family history. The focus and emphasis on family and tradition is incredibly important to Korean Lunar New Year celebrations.
We wish you and your family wonderful health and financial peace in this new year. From our families to yours, Happy Lunar New Year. Do you have any Lunar New Year traditions? What do you and your loved ones do to celebrate? Share in the comments below!