Lunar New Year rush starts after China lifts COVID travel rules. By Associated Press. Lion dancer makes impact on Chinese Lunar New Year tradition. By Mori Rothman, Michael D. Regan. Happy Lunar Wong adds that many Chinese traditions around the new year, like cleaning or eating sweets, are all about setting the mood for the year ahead. "A lot of it feels about intent. Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, falls this year on Wednesday, Jan. 29, and ends with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12. How is the Lunar New Year celebrated? While traditions differ by Such is its importance that Chinese New Year is one of 44 Chinese traditions officially inscribed as world cultural heritage by UNESCO. This year on January 29, China welcomes the Year of the Snake, the sixth of the 12-year cycle of zodiac animals. In traditional and contemporary Chinese culture, red represents prosperity and happiness. It’s considered a lucky color, and people will wear it in celebration to usher in an auspicious new year The Lunar New Year feast is one of the highlights, with Chinese families traditionally holding a grand reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve. Similar to turkeys for Thanksgiving in the U.S., certain dishes like fish (symbolizing surplus), rice cakes (symbolizing progress), eight-treasure rice pudding (symbolizing wealth from all directions), and In Chinese culture, each year associated with the Chinese zodiac carries its own set of beliefs and traditions, including taboos and lucky colours. These traditions, integral to Lunar New Year celebrations and the broader cultural practices throughout the year, guide behaviours and decisions to promote a year of prosperity and good fortune. Throughout subsequent decades, Chinese New Year celebrations would be subject to xenophobia, police blockades, restrictions on sending money home, and import bans on New Year’s goods. In 1912, the Republic of China under Sun Yat Sen controversially eliminated the holiday ostensibly to distance itself from the recently defated Qing Dynasty. Through traditions like multi-course Lunar New Year dinners, Chinese American parents teach their children the importance of family time. For the children of Chinese immigrants, Lunar New Year is a way of feeling rooted to the traditions and culture of their or their parent’s homeland. The Year of the Snake begins on Jan. 29. It’s the first time Lunar New Year is a legislatively recognized (though unpaid) holiday in Washington state. Here's what to know about it. Superstitions surrounding New Year’s Day are as varied as the cultures that uphold them. Many people view the start of the year as a symbolic reset, and acts performed on this day are thought to influence the months ahead. In Chinese culture, showering or bathing on New Year’s Day, particularly during the Lunar New Year, is often avoided. American New Year’s . An American New Year’s consists of classic traditions including attending parties, watching the Times Square Ball Drop for the midnight countdown, watching fireworks displays, creating a New Year’s resolution, hosting potlucks, and much more. Among Mr Chek's earliest Lunar New Year memories is Cap Goh Meh, a festival marking the 15th and final day of Lunar New Year celebrations, also known as the Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao Jie. The Lasting Impact of Chinese New Year. The evolution of Chinese New Year in the Philippines demonstrates the power of cultural integration and shared traditions. By blending Chinese customs with Filipino practices, the celebration has become a symbol of unity, reflecting the country’s multicultural identity. Conclusion. 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. The Western New Year is based on the Gregorian solar calendar - known in Chinese as 公历 (gōng lì) or 阳历 (yáng lì), whereas the Chinese New Year is based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar - known in Chinese as 农历 (nóng lì) or 阴历 (yīn lì). This year, the 15-day festival begins Friday and will be a time for adherents to usher in a new year with a variety of cultural traditions. Here's everything to know about the 2025 Lunar New Year Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations and Activities (Jan. 7–Feb. 12, 2025) Jan. 7, 2025: Laba Festival. Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for Chinese New Year as early as day 8 of the 12 th month of the lunar calendar. Unlike the American New Year, the Chinese New Year is celebrated continually for 15 days after New Year’s Day, when the first full moon of the year occurs. In preparation for such an extensive celebration, all houses are cleaned to sweep away bad spirits and decorated to reflect the commemoration of the new year.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.