What is Lunar New Year, and how do different Asian families celebrate? - The Dallas Morning News

Today marks the start of the Lunar New Year for many who have ties to East and Southeast Asian countries, including China, Korea and Vietnam.

The date, unlike the 365-day Gregorian Calendar that starts on Jan. 1, aligns with the lunisolar cycle, in which months are based off moon phases. It typically falls between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20 of each year, marking the start of Spring.

Other cultures also have new year’s celebrations based on the lunar cycle, but they fall on different months in the Gregorian calendar.

Some older generations of people from East Asian countries still use the lunar calendar for significant dates, including birthdays.

Chinese New Year, Tết or Seollal?

While this is the biggest holiday celebrated in some East Asian countries, each recognize the occasion in different ways.

Each country has different traditions related to food and celebrations. In China, for example, the Lunar New Year is celebrated over 15 days, but Korean people usually celebrate for three days. While differences exist between the cultures, a reoccurring theme is the focus on family and prosperity for the coming year.

What is the Year of the Tiger?

Each Lunar New Year is represented by one of the 12 animals that make up the Chinese Zodiac signs — rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. For each year, an animal is paired with one of the five elements — metal, water, wood, fire, and earth — and each correlates to its own strengths and weaknesses, similar to western astrology.

Jian Xie, president of Asian Culture And Education Society USA, said in Chinese culture, the tiger is considered the king of animals, and represents strength and boldness.

The Water Tiger is the Chinese Zodiac for 2022, and its symbolism and meaning can differ from culture to culture. (None of them have anything to do with Cincinnati Bengals going to the Superbowl.)

How is the Lunar New Year celebrated?

Countries that celebrate the Lunar New Year have different customs and traditions that take place between three to 15 days after the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Many Chinese and Vietnamese families, for example, exchange red envelopes filled with money for family members, as they do for other celebrations, such as weddings, Xie said. Chinese and Vietnamese cultures also celebrate with Lion Dance performances.

Chinese families traditionally eat dinner together on the eve of the Lunar New Year, with steamed whole fish being an important dish as it is meant to bring wealth in the New Year. At midnight, families spark fireworks and firecrackers to scare away bad spirits.

Dumplings are also an important part of Chinese New Year celebrations. Some families place a coin in one of the dumplings, and the person who finds it is considered to have good fortune in their finances for the next year.

Korean families also urge children not to go to sleep until midnight on the night before the Lunar New Year and warn them that their eyebrows will turn white.

For people who are of Korean descent, “Dduk-Guk” (soup made with rice cake) is a traditional dish, along with a board game called “Yoot” with four sticks used as dice.

Korean children also participate in a bowing ceremony called “Seh-Beh” to show respect to their parents and grandparents. Children are then given money, similar to Chinese New Year traditions, but red envelopes are not widely used among people of Korean descent.

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What is Lunar New Year, and how do different Asian families celebrate? - The Dallas Morning News
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