chinese new year and lunar new year the same when does the chinese new year start and end

Are Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year the Same Thing? Simply put, Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year are not the same. Despite being related, there are a few noteworthy differences between the two. Read on to find out what they are. The Differences between Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year 1. Chinese New Year specifically refers to the festival in China. Lunar New Year is a broader term for similar celebrations across Asia. Both are based on lunar calendars, but the Chinese calendar dictates the timing of Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is actually only one festival under the umbrella term of Lunar New Year, which is a festival that occurs on the first day of a new year in the lunisolar calendar, a calendar that As the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, approaches, with the Year of the Snake from January 29 to February 12, 2025, it’s not uncommon for people to mix up Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year. These two terms are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences between them. Every year, the Lunar New Year marks the transition from one animal to another. The Year of the Dragon, which began on Feb. 10, 2024, ended Tuesday to begin the Year of the Snake. Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year are rich in cultural meaning and tradition. But it’s not the same. Lunar New Year encompasses celebrations of many cultures, while Chinese New Year focuses on specific Chinese traditions. When learning about these differences we can appreciate the diversity and beauty of each celebration. Lunar New Year celebrations can last up to 15 days, starting on the new moon between late January and mid-February. The exact date varies each year based on the lunar calendar. The new year begins Despite the variations, Lunar New Year celebrations across these cultures share common themes of family gatherings, honoring ancestors, and wishing for good luck and prosperity in the upcoming year. The Differences between Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year 1. “Chinese New Year” is specific while “Lunar New Year” is more general. The Tibetan New Year usually comes within a few days after the Chinese Lunar New Year and lasts about 3 to 5 days. During the festival, people will light bonfires, gather in a circle, and sing and dance to traditional music all night long on a square or spacious grassland. You probably already know about Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is a lunar new year celebration that’s similar to lunar calendars used by Tibetans, Hindus, certain Buddhist groups, and even one sect of Judaism. Lunar New Year is celebrated when the first new lunar cycle starts with a new moon. (A new moon is the absence of the moon.) Lunar New Year (Tet) flowers in downtown Hanoi to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Chinese New Year Vs. Lunar New Year. In China, the Chinese will refer to the Chinese Lunar New Year Holiday as the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival. In Hong Kong, the holiday is officially referred to as the Lunar New Year; in Vietnam, it is known as TET. Lunar New Year on January 29, 2025, marks the start of the Year of the Snake, symbolizing wisdom and transformation. This festive time encourages reflection, setting intentions, and spreading The Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year are not the same thing. Lunar New Year is a general term that is celebrated by many traditions and holds different cultural significances. Chinese New Year Korean New Year is NOT the same as Chinese New Year. But it is similar. And everyone has a tendency to refer to the Lunar New Year as Chinese New Year. Although, it’s no wonder because China has the world’s largest population! Not to mention that the traditions of Chinese New Year are just fun with dragon dances, fireworks, and the like! When is Lunar New Year? This year, Lunar New Year falls on Wednesday, Jan. 29. It ends Feb. 12. What is Lunar New Year? Lunar New Year, also widely regarded as Chinese New Year since the late 19th In 2025, the celebrations mark the transition from the Year of the Dragon to the Year of the Snake. The snake, a revered animal in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizes wisdom, intuition, and elegance. The zodiac, or Sheng Xiao (生肖), operates on a 12-year cycle, with each year associated with a Tied to the lunar calendar, the holiday began as a time for feasting and to honour household and heavenly deities, as well as ancestors. The New Year typically begins with the first new moon that occurs between the end of January and spans the first 15 days of the first month of the lunar calendar— until the full moon arrives. Chinese New Year and the Vietnamese New Year (called Tết in Vietnam) actually have a lot in common. What we can be sure of is that Lunar New Year holidays are always about dedicating time for family, gatherings, gifts and hoping for the best for the New Year to come. What are the animals of the zodiac? Each year honors an animal based on the Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals — the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig — measure the cycles of time. In 1986, the San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade, one of the largest Lunar New Year celebrations in the U.S., added an unofficial secondary description to its culturally specific

chinese new year and lunar new year the same when does the chinese new year start and end
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