Asian communities all over the globe celebrate the new year with parades, fireworks and other celebrations.
It’s the Lunar New Year, also known by the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival. This is when Asian communities all over the globe will bid farewell the Year of the Tiger to welcome in the Year of the Rabbit.
Traditional celebrations include family reunions, parades, and fireworks.
One legend states that a monster emerged from the earth at the beginning of each year to eat the villager. They were able to exile Nian, the Chinese word for “year”) because the beast was afraid of bright lights and loud noises.
Lunar New Year is more than just a new calendar cycle. It also symbolizes reunion, rebirth and the end of winter.
This article will cover everything you need to know about important dates and rituals, the Year of the Rabbit, and the efforts to make Lunar New Year an American holiday.
Which animal will be celebrated this year?
Chinese calendars operate on a 12-year cycle. Each year is linked to one of twelve animals: rat.
The Year of the Rabbit is the Gregorian year 2023.
The fourth Chinese animal is the rabbit. It symbolizes grace and beauty, mercy, and good fortune. Because of the mythical Jade Rabbit, rabbits are also associated to the moon.
The lunar calendar is not only based on the 12 zodiac animal signs, but also includes a cycle with 10 “heavenly stems”, each one representing one of the five elements in Taoism, fire, earth water, wood, metal. This means that 2022 was the Year of the Water Tiger and 2023 the Year of the Water Rabbit.
People who were born during the Water Years are thought to be creative, sensitive, and reflective.
James To of the New Zealand Chinese Association stated to Stuff that people born in the Year of the Water Rabbit have a natural ability for diplomacy, negotiation and compromise.
What does the Year of the Rabbit represent?
Dottie Li, cross-cultural communications strategist, said that rabbits are a symbol of peace and relaxation. She also predicted a calm 2023. “The rabbit’s traits can be expected to bring relaxation, fluidity and quietness, as well as contemplation.
People born in the Year of the Rabbit are believed to be peaceful — they avoid criticism, change, and arguments.
The Chinese Language Institute says that rabbits can be prone to jealousy and pessimism.
Famous people born in the Year of the Rabbit are Angelina Jolie (Alison Einstein), Brad Pitt, Brad Pitt, Frank Sinatra, and Brad Jordan.
What is the Lunar New Year?
Red and gold are symbols of good fortune in Asia. Red is a popular color for Lunar New Year. Children often get money-filled envelopes and wear it. Families will host feasts, clean up their homes, and visit shrines to pay respects to the deceased.
Different communities may have their own ways of ringing the new year. In Korea Seollal is the first day of Chinese lunisolar calendar. This is when families exchange gifts and enjoy rice cake soup or savory pancakes.
January 22 marks the beginning of the Year of the Cat in Vietnam. Participants can enjoy special foods such as Thit Kho Trung (braised pork with duck eggs), and decorate yellow Apricot Blossoms and other plants.
Americans are most familiar with Chinese New Year festivities, which include boat races, dragon parades and fireworks. The Lantern Festival, which takes place at the end the new year season, features paper lanterns as well as treats such tangyuan (a dessert made of gooey rice ball).
Although New Year celebrations can begin on the weekend before and continue for several weeks, the first 15 days of the year are not considered public holidays.
To mark the end the New Year season, the Lantern Festival takes place on the first full moon in the year. It falls on February 5, 2023.
Could the Lunar New Year be a US holiday?
Although it is possible, it is not likely at the moment. A bill was introduced by Grace Meng, a New York Democrat, to make Lunar New Year the first federal holiday since President Joe Biden signed a law recognizing Juneteenth, June 2021.
Meng, vice-chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus stated that “with Asian Americans being the fastest growing population of our country, and the popularity of this holiday continuing to grow,” Meng said at the time.
Although the measure was not approved, Meng’s office stated that she intends to reintroduce the measure this year.
Since 2015, Lunar New Year has been an official holiday in New York City. In September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation making it a state holiday.
Newsom stated that he was proud of the state’s diversity and backgrounds and that he understood the importance of having one’s experience represented in state holidays.
