This past weekend was the celebration of Lunar New Year, falling on February 10th in China. As the year of the Dragon begins, here is some information about traditions and celebrations!
Also known as the Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year is celebrated across Asia, as well as by communities across the world. The Lunar New Year begins with the rising of the second new moon after the winter solstice. The festivities usher out the old year and are meant to bring luck and prosperity in the new one.
Some examples of different traditions:
In China, houses are decorated with red for good luck, and children are given money in bright red envelopes. New year celebrations last for two weeks, ending with a lantern festival, which marks the full moon.
In Korea, celebrations last three-days, and include traditional costumes (known as hanbok). In order to show respect to their elders, children honour them deep bows (known as seh bae).
In Vietnam, Lunar New Year, also known as Tết, is celebrated with family. Food, like bánh tét (log-like cylinder) and bánh chưng (square) sticky rice cakes, plays a vital role in the celebrations!
In the Philippines, when the clock strikes midnight, you’ll see children and adults jumping for joy, as it’s said that it will make them grow taller. The most traditional celebration of the Lunar New Year is called Media Noche, where Filipino families come together for a midnight feast to celebrate a year of prosperity ahead.
In the Chinese zodiac, this year is the Year of the Wood Dragon. It is said that children born in the year ahead will be known for their intuition and intelligence, and as such will enjoy lots of success!
Read from sources:
-Maggie Hiufu Wong (CNN), Wanyuan Song & Jeremy Howell (BBC News), Anna Kim (Travel + Leisure)
