The Lunar New Year is a Chinese celebration of the arrival of spring and the new year based on the lunar calendar. The dates and months on the lunar calendar represent the moon phases; months change with every new moon, and a new year begins sometime between Jan. 21 – Feb. 20, due to the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox. The two-week-long celebration is filled with family, friends, and traditions. Lunar New Year is a very extravagant holiday.
Giving and receiving red envelopes, eating special foods, wearing new clothes, partaking in lantern festivals, playing with firecrackers, and throwing broken plates at each other are just some of the many Lunar New Year traditions. The lantern festival brings light and happiness into the new year. Parents usually give their children red envelopes after the reunion dinner–a time for families to come together –as a sign of good health and luck since the color red is an auspicious symbol in China. Senior Simon Yu shared, “One of my favorite traditions during the Lunar New Year is the giving of red envelopes (also known as “Hong Bao”), and they are given by parents and grandparents to the younger ones and they contain money. To me, the red envelopes are always beautiful with cool designs on them, so it is even more of a thrill to see the shapes and various colors on the designs.” Sophomore Chloe Johnson added, “I think my favorite [tradition] would [also] be the red envelopes because it would be something to bring all of my family together, and it would feel like my birthday a little bit too because we are giving out cards.”
Food is a major component of the celebration. Family and friends have large feasts to celebrate. Dumplings, fish, noodles, sweet rice balls, and tangerines are shared to bring good luck and fortune. Yu explained, “The day before the Lunar New Year, my whole family (sometimes extended) gets together and we have a huge meal together. Some of my favorite foods (such as fried lobster noodles) are prepared and it is always nice to catch up with family and have a great meal together.”
There are certain customs to be followed during the new year. Some include avoiding water, black and white, and sharp items; napping; urging people out of bed; and buying books. People also give money in even numbers and eat lucky foods. Sophomore Clara Larke explained, “I do not think I would be able to follow all these rules. I think the hardest to follow would be avoiding water because I drink water all day long.” These customs are significant to those who celebrate as they play an important part in bringing good luck and energy into the new year.
The decorations put up in homes come with meaning as well. Yu commented, “My family doesn’t decorate for the Lunar New Year, but as a child, it was fascinating to go to Manhattan to see the Lunar New Year festival with the dancers and the overflow of red. Because of that, it will always have a special place in my heart.” People decorate with paper door banners for best wishes into the new year, paper cuttings for good luck, upside down fu characters to symbolize luck being poured out, and Kumquat trees as a wish for wealth and good luck. These decorations remain up until after the fifteenth day of the festival.
Lunar New Year is a festival based on many traditions and customs to ensure a prosperous year. The holiday would not be the same without all the elements coming together to make it special.
