Welcome to the fascinating world of Lunar New Year celebrations. The festivities commenced on Feb. 10 with some celebrations ranging from one to 15 days, depending upon the country and culture. The Lunar New Year is a time of joy, reflection, and new beginnings. With diverse customs, rituals, and traditions, this annual celebration brings communities together, fostering a sense of unity and cultural richness. Let’s explore the vibrant tapestry of Lunar New Year festivities from different corners of the globe.
Worldwide, some 2 billion people celebrate the Lunar New Year, an international holiday observed throughout many – but not all – Asian countries. The United States has its own unique celebrations. For more about what Lunar New Year is and how it is celebrated here, read this USA Today article.
For those in the Portland metropolitan area, the Lan Su Chinese Garden offers vibrant weekend cultural performances, interactive activities, and nights of lantern viewing events through March 2. During weekends in February, guests also can take part in family craft activities, martial art demonstrations, lion dances, story times, and other cultural performances. Check the garden’s website for a complete list of events and admission fees.
Lunar New Year traditions and customs
Steeped in history, Lunar New Year traditions are passed down through generations, creating a sense of continuity and connection to one’s roots. Dating back thousands of years, these traditions have evolved over time, but continue to hold immense cultural significance. From ancestor worship and temple visits to dragon boat races and lantern festivals, Lunar New Year traditions provide a window into the rich cultural heritage of different communities.
According to Remitly, a company committed to giving immigrant communities access to financial tools and resources, there are 10 essential Lunar New Year traditions for celebrating around the world:
- Dances, parades, and street parties: Vibrant parades with dragon and lion dances, acrobats, masked dancers, and other folk pageantry are a familiar symbol of the Lunar New Year.
- Honoring gods, ancestors, and elders: Many families visit temples during the Lunar New Year. It’s also a common practice for younger generations to honor their elders and wish them a long life. This might mean special greetings, bowing, and giving deference while sharing food. This type of ritual is also typically a part of gift-giving and receiving.
- New clothes: Wearing new clothes during the Lunar New Year symbolizes a fresh start. In Korea, it’s a common practice to wear new hanbok, the traditional clothing of the Korean people, during the holiday.
- Posting spring couplets on the door: During the new year, people write black or golden characters on red paper. Spring couplets are composed of two lines of poetry, or blessings, pasted vertically on both sides of the front door with a four-character horizontal scroll affixed above the door frame. Posting couplets expresses people’s delight in the festival and wishes for a better life in the coming year.
- Giving red envelopes and other gifts: Giving gifts to family and friends is another big tradition. Suitable gifts vary by region and from family to family. Sweets, fruit, special delicacies, flowers, tea leaves, health products, and gift baskets are popular.
- Spring cleaning: A serious spring cleaning is another element of preparation for the Lunar New Year that’s both practical and ritualistic.
- Eating special foods: Lunar New Year celebrations always involve lots of special food. The meal on the eve of the Lunar New Year is often the largest feast of the year. Some cultures call it a “family reunion dinner.”
- Taking care of finances: Many people take the start of a new year as a chance to tie up loose financial ends, both business and personal. Businesses and individuals will pay off debts, collect money owed, balance the books, and generally prepare a clean slate for the upcoming year.
- Visiting family and friends: Family reunions, often involving long-distance travel, are a major part of Lunar New Year customs in every country that celebrates.
- Celebrating the Lantern Festival: In some cultures, the Lantern Festival is on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year. During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night and carry paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns. Historically, the brightest lanterns symbolized good fortune and hope, and they were thought to chase away bad luck.
The joyous festivities of the Lunar New Year bring together people from all walks of life, fostering a spirit of unity and inclusivity. It is a time for communities to come together, celebrate their shared traditions, and learn from one another. Whether it’s the vibrant parades in San Francisco, the breathtaking firework displays in Sydney, or the mesmerizing lantern festivals in Seoul, Lunar New Year festivities captivate the hearts and minds of people around the world.