Overall, the Taiwanese Lunar New Year is a blend of ancient customs and modern-day celebrations, offering a unique experience that highlights the country's rich cultural heritage. While similar in some ways to the Chinese New Year, Taiwan’s celebration has a distinct charm that reflects its national values and traditions. [18] When is Chinese New Year in Taiwan? Since the Chinese lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the dates of Lunar New Year vary by year. Chinese New Year occurs on the new moon that appears anytime between January 21 and February 20. The 2025 date for Chinese New Year in Taiwan is Wednesday, January 29. Before the New Year, a spring clean is a must.And while it helps to get rid of the junk collected over the year, there’s actually another more important reason for the annual pre-New Year clean up: the idea is that in removing old and unused objects, you’re making room for new luck in the coming year, and that by sweeping dust out the door and cleaning dirt off the windows, you are casting Here, the holiday is very much a family-oriented time of the year, so the majority of Chinese New Year traditions tend to take place in the family home. While other communities around the world may celebrate with parades and the like, Taiwanese prefer to spend their time in the company of their family, particularly their grandparents and parents. Chinese New Year in Taiwan is a time for family reunions, honoring ancestors, and celebrating new beginnings. The festivities typically last for 15 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival. During this period, the island comes alive with vibrant decorations, traditional music, and the tantalizing aroma of festive foods. The Spring Festival is a time for family reunions and festivities. Many travelers from across the world also travel to Taiwan to celebrate Chinese New Year. Atmosphere. Taiwan has a very unique atmosphere during the Spring Festival. Since most of the Taiwanese population is Chinese, many of the shops in Taiwan close during the Spring Festival. The Lunar New Year is Taiwan's most important and longest holiday. You may have also heard of it referred to as the “Chinese New Year” but the reality is that many cultures around the world celebrate it, including Taiwan. One of the many hallmarks of this 16-day celebration is the feasting involved. Chinese New Year in Taiwan is a truly unforgettable experience, offering a unique blend of tradition, culture, and celebration. Whether you’re exploring bustling city streets or enjoying the tranquility of the countryside, Taiwan’s festive spirit is sure to leave a lasting impression. What is the Lunar New Year? The Lunar New Year — known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea — is a major festival celebrated in several Asian countries. In Taiwan, this year, people have been drawn to the White Snake Temple to pay their respects. 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. Does Taiwan celebrate New Year’s Day? New Year’s Day (Republic Day) falls on 1 January in Taiwan and is celebrated as a public holiday. As it falls on a weekday in 2025 (Wednesday 1 January), locals are only entitled to one day but many will take more days off to celebrate it. A Little Note About Lunar New Year. In case you missed it in the title, yes, cultures that were once influenced by pre-modern China, e.g. Japan, Korea, Vietnam, China nowadays, etc. basically what you might call “East Asia” or “the Sinosphere” celebrate 2 different New Year’s -- a Western one, based on the solar calendar, and a traditional one based on the ancient Chinese lunar calendar. Top 10 Taiwanese Lunar New Year traditions Some of the most popular traditions taking place in Taiwan over the Lunar New Year Holiday Feb. 6, 2021 12:45 What other cultural events or festivals take place during the New Year period in Taiwan? During the new year period in Taiwan, there are many cultural events and festivals that take place. These include the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations and is known for its beautiful displays of lanterns. Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) is a time for families to be together. Chinese New Year's Eve is the most important time. Wherever they are, people are expected to be home to celebrate the festival with their families. The Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is called 'reunion dinner'. Big families of several generations sit around round tables and Chinese New Year is the most important festival celebrated by the ethnic Chinese. From New Year’s Eve to the fifth day following the New Year, many similar customs are practiced by the Taiwanese. Cultural Customs that are widely applied in Taiwan 1. Putting on Lucky Red Items as Chinese New Year Decorations Because the lunar and solar calendars don’t match up, Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year. Generally speaking, it falls in the period between late January and early February. About Chinese New Year in Taiwan. Chinese New Year is definitely the most important of all of Taiwan’s traditional holidays, and it is also the longest. Chinese New Year originates from the legend of "Nian", a ferocious monster who attacked people every New Year's Eve. The people learned to keep Nian away by setting off firecrackers,and sticking red paper on their doors, since the monster was known to fear light, loud noises, and the color red. The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year is usually celebrated between late January and February, during the first new moon. This year, it will be on Wednesday, January 2025. But if you’re in Japan, you may be wondering, “Does Japan celebrate Chinese New Year?” Here’s what you should know. Does Japan Celebrate Chinese New Year? Lunar New Year is my favorite holiday. During my four years in college in New Jersey, I missed celebrating with my family (couldn’t leave school in the middle of February). Therefore, ever since I started working, I took vacations from work specifically to celebrate Lunar New Year with my family back in Taiwan.
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