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" is specific while "Lunar New Year" is more general. 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. The push for ‘Lunar New Year’ Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the lunisolar calendar, with festivities often lasting for 15 days or more. Besides the wording, there are differences between Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year. Chinese New Year in China and Hong Kong includes events like parades, dragon and lion dances, as well as customs observed at work and within the family, like gatherings, giving red packets, decorating with specific flowers and fruits, and, of course 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 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. 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. 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.) For Chinese people, Lunar New Year is the Spring Festival, and it’s celebrated widely in Taiwan and across Southeast Asia in countries with large Chinese populations, such as Singapore and Malaysia. 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. Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year are two terms that are often used interchangeably to refer to the most important festival in many Asian cultures. However, they are not exactly the same thing. Chinese Lunar New Year Vs Western New Year: the comparison mainly focuses on different time to celebrate the new year, various activities and respective meanings. The following discussion may help you get a better understanding of the differences between Chinese Lunar New Year and Western New Year. The Chinese Lunar New Year starts Wednesday, and one concept will be radiating throughout the year—internal transformation. Three aspects of the Chinese astrology zodiac are converging to make The Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival. It is the biggest and most important festival in China and East Asian communities around the world. Now, let us know the do's and don'ts Lunar New Year starts this week, marking an important holiday in China and other Asian communities. Lunar New Year celebrations can last up to 15 days, starting on the new moon between late 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. You are wrong. lunar new year is NOT the more common term. CNY is. Or you can call it Chinese Lunar New Year, because this festival is originated in China, the same way we call Swiss army knife, Scotch whisky, English breakfast tea. These products are used by the whole world but they are named after origin country! The terms Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year are often used interchangeably. But it’s not the same. Although both celebrate the start of a new year according to the lunar calendar, they have different meanings, traditions, and cultural significance. Here's everything to know about the 2025 Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake. the Chinese New Year follows a lunar calendar based the moon's 12 phases. Each phase cycle spans approximately Both lunar new year and Chinese New Year are based on the complete cycles of phases of the moon. To tell the difference between Lunar New Year Vs Chinese New Year, first, we need to know the differences between the lunar and the solar calendar. A lunar calendar is a calendar that depends on the moon’s monthly cycles.
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