The first thing I would like to do is clarify that Lunar New Year is actually called Lunar New Year, not Chinese New Year. Not only do the Chinese even call it Lunar New Year (農曆新年), Lunar New Year is observed in many other Asian countries as well, such as Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
The first thing I would like to do is clarify that Lunar New Year is actually called Lunar New Year, not Chinese New Year. Not only do the Chinese even call it Lunar New Year (農曆新年), Lunar New Year is observed in many other Asian countries as well, such as Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. So if you have a friend who comes from a traditional Asian family, chances are s/he celebrates Lunar New Year.
This doesn’t mean people lacking Asian heritage can’t celebrate this fresh start of the lunar calendar as well. Here is some useful information for you to know to start your own New Year traditions:
In almost all cultures which celebrate this time of year, lucky money is given from an older generation to a younger generation. In most plases, such as Vietnam, Taiwan, and China, money is given in red, lucky envelopes in hopes of bringing on a lucky year. In Korea, money is given in silk bags that are usually more expensive than the amount of money in them. Along with lucky money, the elders offer words of wisdom, mostly about finding a partner and settling down.
In fact, China has a service where you can rent a fake boyfriend just for this occasion, so elders won’t continuously nag you about how you should probably find someone before you start getting wrinkles on your face. Other bits of wisdom include words of inspiration, business tips, and the caring words of grandmothers who just want you to eat more.
The Lunar New Year means spending time with family–the complete opposite of New Year celebrations that I’ve experienced in the States so far (I’m a Korean Native who moved to the states about 7 years ago). This means that everyone will be packing up to visit their relatives in some far away place that’s not Seoul (in the case of Korea). Needless to say, the traffic during Lunar New Year is some of the most congested in the entire year; it is so blocked that China and Korea put portable toilets along the highways during this time. Spending time with family and paying respect to elders is extremely important in Eastern cultures, and it is one of the main themes this holiday revolves around.
My favorite part of the Lunar New Year is the massive amounts of food that comes with it; think of it as an American Thanksgiving times ten. Families usually start preparing food a week or two before, filling up tables of food such as Buddha’s delight in China (a vegetarian dish), Ddukguk in Korea (broth with thin rice cakes), or Bánh chưng in Vietnam (rice with meat or bean fillings wrapped in leaves). It’s rude to refuse food from an elder in the Eastern culture, so you better be ready to fill your stomach up with various meats, veggie pancakes, and a lot of rice. Koreans also drink Soju, a traditional alcoholic drink that’s said to protect you from diseases and bad luck.
A variety of entertainment is also enjoyed with the whole family during the Lunar New Year. Xiangqi (Chinese chess) is played in many countries, along with traditional opera shows and board games. Adults may gamble a little with Mahjong, Hanafuda, and Hwatu cards. I remember circling around the Hwatu rug waiting for someone to win and give me money to buy chips at the store next door. These days, the traditional games are also paired with modern entertainment such as movies or karaoke.
The Chinese zodiac (生肖) is also a crucial part of the celebration, as a new year signifies a new zodiac sign. The story goes that all of the animals decided to have a race, and the order of the animals to cross the finish line is the order of the Chinese zodiac (the rat came in first). This year is the year of the horse, so if you were born in 1954, 1966, 1978, or 1990, this is your year! Wear red somewhere on your body for the rest of the year in order to have good luck.
The New Year celebrations can range anywhere from one day to over two weeks; in China, the fifteen-day festival is concluded with its famous Lantern Festival, where children light paper lanterns at temples and solve riddles.
In Korea, the New Year lasts three days, usually even one or two days before, to prepare all the food. In Vietnam, the New Year is one day, but it is considered by many the most important holiday of the year. Whichever way, two New Years is better than one, so why not celebrate?
Happy New Year!
