A look at how the Chinese-Indian communities in Kolkata and Mumbai keep the traditions of Chinese New Year alive through food, rituals, and cultural fusion Updated - January 25, 2025 12:43 pm IST Chinese New Year 2025 begins on January 29, marking the Year of the Wood Snake. Celebrations include family reunions, red decorations, lion and dragon dances, and gift-giving with red envelopes. For Chinese people, Lunar New Year is the Spring Festival, India’s most colorful festival. How to celebrate Christmas, Polish style. A woman offers prayers at the Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong, to celebrate the Chinese New Year, which marked the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac in 2023 [File: Bertha Wang/AP Photo Some Indigenous people also celebrate Lunar New Year this time of year, including members of Mexico’s Purepecha Indigenous group. How do diaspora communities celebrate? Members of Asian American communities around the U.S. also organize parades, carnivals and festivities around the Lunar New Year featuring lion and dragon dances, fireworks Lunar New Year is the most important holiday among the Chinese in many countries, including India. It signals the start of spring so people also call it the “Spring Festival”. The celebration is believed to have originated when the people started decorating their houses with red paper decorations to ward off Nian, a mythical beast that India; Lunar New Year: Family, food and colour as millions celebrate Year of the Snake. 29 January 2025. Summary. Even though Chinese New Year only begins on 29 January, many leave for their In the Chinese zodiac, each new year, according to the lunar calendar, is associated with one of 12 animals, and 2025 marks the Year of the Snake. Different regions in Asia may not follow the same Widely considered to be the most important event in the year for many in Asia and some Asian communities worldwide, the Lunar New Year represents a fresh start for those who celebrate. Lunar New Year 2025: Lunar New Year 2025 begins on January 29, celebrating the Year of the Wood Snake. Marked by family reunions, vibrant traditions, symbolic foods, and cultural festivities, the holiday brings joy and good fortune to communities worldwide. Singaporeans celebrate Lunar New Year as one of the most auspicious holidays of the year, as well. Because there is such a big Chinese community in Singapore, many of the same cultural 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. Liang is a chef who has worked in Vienna, then in Germany, and now lives in Toronto. He is one of the hundreds of Chinese people who have gathered in Kolkata to celebrate the Chinese New Year, which falls this year on February 10, with friends and family, part of the Indian Chinese diaspora who are scattered across the world. While most people are familiar with the Chinese New Year, the lunar new year is also celebrated in other countries, including India. In this article, we will dive into the fascinating traditions and customs associated with the Indian Lunar New Year, shedding light on the unique ways in which this festival is celebrated in the country. Lunar New Year is the most important holiday among the Chinese in many countries, including India. It signals the start of spring so people also call it the “Spring Festival”. The celebration is believed to have originated when the people started decorating their houses with red paper decorations to ward off Nian, a mythical beast that Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year based on lunar or lunisolar calendars. It is often referred to as Chinese New Year, especially in China, where it is a major cultural celebration. So, does Thailand celebrate the Lunar New Year? The simple answer is yes! In fact, as mentioned in the Hot Thai Kitchen Newsletter, Thailand is home to millions of people of Chinese descent; therefore, it comes as no surprise the country embraces this important festival with open arms. Here Are Different Cultures That Do Not Celebrate New Year On January 1. Chinese New Year (February 12, 2021) Also called as the ‘Spring Festival’, the Chinese New Year is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal, not just in China but in Southeast Asian countries that follow the Lunar calendar and the large Chinese community living overseas. In Gujarat the new year is celebrated as the day after Diwali. As per the Hindu Calendar, it falls on Shukla Paksha Pratipada in the Hindu month of Kartik. As per the Indian Calendar based on the lunar cycle, Kartik is the first month of the year and the New Year in Gujarat falls on the first bright day of Kartik (Ekam). In many Chinese cities, from New Year’s Day, traditional performances can be seen such as dragon dances, lion dances, and imperial performances like an emperor’s wedding.
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