This Saturday, many are going to celebrate the Lunar New Year. It’s the year of the Rat, the first of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. That’s why it’s believed that this is a year of new beginnings.
Being one of the most important events for several nations, the Chinese New Year is also known as the Lunar Festival and the Spring Festival. Celebrations include abundant dishes and festive decorations. Each year, the festival causes the biggest human migration in the world, with people returning to their hometowns to visit the elders.
Here’s how people from different regions celebrate the Lunar New Year.
1. China
The Spring Festival is one of the biggest celebrations in China. when the whole family gathers together to prepare traditional dumplings, give red hong bao envelopes with money to younger members, set off firecrackers, and release sky lanterns. This is said to bring health and abundance.
People decorate their homes in red and put upside down posters with the Chinese character “福” (‘fu,’ meaning good fortune) on the doors and windows. You shouldn’t straighten these posters as people believe that this will make the good luck fly away.
Celebrations continue for 15 days. Every day is dedicated to some special activities, ending with the Lantern Festival.
2. Taiwan
The fireworks are a must during the Lunar Festival in Taiwan. They guarantee the festive mood as you can see and hear them everywhere.
There are several dishes that always appear on the New Year’s table, like dumplings, fish, chicken, nian gao sticky rice cakes, and pineapple cakes. Nian gao sounds like the Chinese phrase for “a year higher,” so eating rice cakes symbolizes the wish for a luckier and more successful year. Another festive dessert, typical for Taiwan, is the pineapple cake. Its significance comes from its name, pronounced as “ong lai” in Hokkien language. The sound is similar to that of the phrase, “Prosperity is coming.”
On New Year’s Day, people wear new, usually red clothes and visit elders to wish them a Happy New Year. Younger family members receive red envelopes with money.
3. Vietnam
In Vietnam, it’s customary to have different special dishes. One of them is the rice cake, made with glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork. It’s known as Bach Chung in Northern Vietnam and as Banh Tet in the south. Sticky rice and candied fruits are also presented as offerings in the ancestral shrine and then shared among guests and family members.
During the festival, there’s a pot with a Hoa Dao peach plant or Hoa Mai apricot plant in every house. Its presence is as important as that of the Christmas tree at Christmas.
Kids and teenagers wish luck and prosperity to the elders and, in return, receive small sums of money, known as Li Xi or ‘lucky money.’
4. South Korea
The Lunar Festival in South Korea lasts three days and much like in the other countries, is considered a time for family gatherings and spending time with close friends.
The first day of the Lunar New Year is called Seollal and is considered to be one of the most important Korean holidays. The celebrations start with a memorial service. Family members put on traditional clothes hanbok, prepare food, and pray for the peace of their ancestors. Another ritual, performed by kids and young people, is Sebae. They bow in front of elders and wish them a good fortune during the new year.
People enjoy delicious dishes like rice cake soup and dumplings. Families have a lot of fun playing traditional games, including kite-flying and different board games such as Yutnori and Go-Stop.
Have you ever celebrated the Lunar New Year? What traditions do you have in your country? Tell us in the comments below.
No sabia como celebraban esta ceremonia otros países.
