What exactly is the Lunar New Year, and how is it celebrated in China? The 15-day festival marks the start of the first new moon according to lunisolar calenders, and this change is celebrated across Asia. The cycle of a lunar year is about 354 days as opposed to the solar year, which lasts 365 days. This difference in the number of days between each new year is what accounts for a lunar new year starting on a different day every year, as well as accounting for the extra month past the solar new year that many other parts of the world celebrate.

The Lunar New Year is also referred to as the Spring Festival and is always celebrated between January 21st and February 20th, and each year corresponds with an animal from the Chinese zodiac - in 2021, this year is representative of the ox. the Lunar New Year is celebrated with many traditions and customs from food to festivals, and all of this starts on New Year's Eve. The New Year itself is representative of new beginnings and community, with family being a focal point. The grand celebration usually ends with a lantern festival as fortune, health, and happiness are celebrated for just over two weeks.

The Lunar New Year Is Different From The Chinese New Year

As opposed to the Chinese New Year, the Lunar New Year is celebrated widely across Asia with traditions belonging to no specific country. In various countries across Asia, the Lunar New Year is simply known as just that, without any distinctive geographical detail, whereas in the U.S., the Lunar New Year is often called the Chinese New Year, although this is not necessarily accurate as China is not the only country to celebrate it.

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Therefore, in China - and every other Asian country to celebrate - it's only referred to as the New Year, whereas in the U.S., people often make the distinction so as to not be confused with the solar new year. There are mixed feelings about this for some, but the distinction does allow the Lunar New Year to remain specific to its traditional Asian roots, with others throughout the U.S. able to learn about its specific traditions and festivities.

In China, A Seven-Day Vacation Occurs During The Spring Festival

In places such as Taiwan and Hong Kong, the Lunar New Year is still known as the 'new year' while it's simply known as the Spring Festival everywhere else. Post-1949, Mao Zedong, the Communist party leader of the time, changed the name of the new year to the Spring Festival.

lanterns for the lunar new year
via People | HowStuffWorks

It was an effort to replace anything that was traditional or considered to be old; the definition of out with the old and in with the new. This is why the Lunar New Year is still referred to as the Spring Festival by much of China's mainland.

Red Money-Filled Envelopes Are Traditional Gifts

It's customary for several customs to take place during the Lunar New Year. For those unfamiliar with Chinese culture and tradition, public places such as restaurants and stores place red, diamond-shaped pieces of paper with the character for fú on them are hung upside-down in the doorways. This is both symbolic and literal - the pieces of paper are hung upside-down to symbolize good luck metaphorically raining down on a person, while the word literally means to 'arrive' and is a homophone for 'upside-down.'

a child with red envelopes for lunar new year
via Shutterstock

Red envelopes are often given to children by their elders with money inside, and they're also given to those who are unmarried. Traditionally, these envelopes with money date back to the superstition that claims coins can ward off evil spirits. It's fun for children, as well, as it's customary for them to request envelopes of money with a sing-songy rhyme.

The Dragon And Lion Dances Are Done Every Year

When the lion comes swerving its way down the street, it's time to feed it red envelopes! It's believed that the lion - which is often operated by two people inside - is capable of warding off evil spirits. It's customary for one person to control the lion's front legs and one person to control its back as it strolls gallantly down the street during traditional parades.

the dragon dance for the lunar new year
via Britannica

Soon to follow is the dragon, which is held up by several puppeteers who are responsible for making the dragon swerve and move in a way that appears as though it's floating just above the crowd. This, along with the lion dance, are two of the most well-known and celebrated traditions of the Lunar New Year. Each region has its own dances, however, and they vary outside of the lion and the dragon.

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