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Happy Lunar New Year!

Feb 12, 2024

The Lunar New Year. Chinese New Year. The Spring Festival. Whatever you call it, it’s the celebration of the new year that begins on the first new moon that appears between January 21 and February 20.

In 2024, the new moon fell on February 10, which marked the official day of the Lunar New Year. The entire celebration extends from January 9, which is New Year’s Eve, to the full moon on February 24, when the Lantern Festival is held.

While most people have heard of Lunar New Year, many outside of the places that celebrate it aren’t aware of just how significant it is. But all around the world, Lunar New Year is an expansive celebration of culture and life that is observed by one-sixth of the people in the world.

Here are just a few facts about the massive celebration that is Lunar New Year, celebrated by over a billion people around the world.

1. It’s The Year of The Dragon
If you know one thing, it’s likely that each Chinese year is represented by a different animal. The 2024 Chinese New Year ushers in the Year of the Dragon, and anyone born in this year is said to be kind, confident, quick-witted, earnest and goal-oriented.

2. The Holiday Originated with Fighting Ancient Beasts (Maybe)
The Chinese New Year dates back to the 14th century BCE, and one myth is that the ancient origins of the festival relate to a massive beast called the Nian (which happens to be the word for 'year'). Once every year, the Nian would come out of its home in the mountains and attack the nearby villages, taking their crops and, sometimes, their children. Fortunately, the villagers learned that the beast was scared away by loud sounds, fire and the color red. These mythological origins, then, say the holiday was created to deter the Nian.

3. The Country Goes on Red Alert
As alluded to in the story of the Nian, the color red is central to the celebration of the new year. Red lanterns are hung outside doors, red cutout papers cover the walls and gifts of money are given in red envelopes, which are called "hóngbāo".

4. Chinese New Year Causes A Massive Migration
Traveling during the holidays is terrible; that’s a universal fact, and Chinese New Year is no exception. The annual event has been termed the Chunyun period, and it’s the largest yearly human migration in the world!

5. It’s The Most Explosive Holiday
China is famous for being the creator of fireworks, and it is still the largest producer of them. The country doesn’t export all of them, however, and it has one of the largest fireworks displays in the world on Lunar New Year’s Eve.

6. Cleaning Is An Important Part of Observing The New Year
One of the yearly traditions that’s slightly less explosive is cleaning the house. In preparation for Chinese New Year, people wipe away all the old dirt that’s been cluttering their lives. It’s a big relief to literally sweep away the remains of the year gone by. But some believe that you should refrain from cleaning much in the days following Chinese New Year to avoid sweeping away the good luck. Starting a new year with a clean house is something pretty much anyone can get on board with, really.

7. The Reunion Dinner Is Central
Over the 15 days of festivities, Chinese New Year is filled with various traditions, from the opening fireworks to the closing Lantern Festival. The most important of all takes place the night before the new year, however. It’s the annual reunion dinner, when multiple generations of a family gather together. Often, the meal comprises eight different dishes, because the number eight is considered a symbol of prosperity in China. Courses generally include chicken, pork, fish, noodles and dumplings.

8. Other Lunar New Years
The Lunar New Year is strongly associated with China, but there are also celebrations in various other parts of Asia. Vietnam, Korea, Tibet and Mongolia all have lunar holidays that begin on the same day as Chinese New Year. Japan also hosts some events during this time, but the country has officially observed New Year’s Day on January 1 for over a century now. While China gets the most attention, each of these other Lunar New Years comes with their own set of traditions that reflect the culture and heritage of the celebrants.

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