By Olivia Cushman
February 12, 2021 marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. Celebrated in many East Asian countries, most notably in China, Japan, Vietnam, and Korea, the Lunar New Year is the beginning of a calendar year whose months are moon cycles. The Lunar New Year is celebrated as the Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, Ryukyu, or Seollal, among many other names, and events that fall roughly on the same date.
The beginning of traditions surrounding the Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year – as many have become accustomed to call it – started around the Shang Dynasty of China, who ruled parts of China from around 1600 BCE to 1050 BCE. The celebration and adoption of the lunisolar calendar spread throughout the region of East Asia, or predominately the modern day countries of Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and China.
You may have heard 2021 be referred to as “the year of the ox.” The Lunar Calendar has a set of 12 animals assigned to each year, completing a cycle after 12 years. The Ox is the second animal in the 12 year sequence, and anyone who is born this year will have these traits: diligence, hardworking, gentleness, reliability, and patience. Just like how there’s a 12-sign zodiac used throughout western society, there’s an astrology practice in the eastern hemisphere with many traits assigned to each animal.
People of Northern China celebrate the Lunar New Year by giving lucky money in red envelopes and lighting sparklers and fireworks. You might have seen Chinese New Year parades with the traditional Chinese lion or dragon dancing through the streets for everyone to see. Every country and region celebrates in their own way, but most East Asian religions include the honoring of family ancestors and gods during the start of the Lunar New Year.
Celebratory foods and delicacies include soup dumplings, rice cakes, steamed fish and noodle soup, and Korean Barbecue, depending on which region of the eastern hemisphere you’re in. Even though the celebration of the Lunar New Year started in China, it’s best to refer to the series of East Asian events as the “Lunar New Year” rather than the “Chinese New Year.” Not everyone celebrates the same way, and that’s part of what makes the community so interesting and diverse.
Happy Lunar New Year to all! May 2021 bring you good fortune and peace!
