A lot of people celebrate the New Year on Jan. 1. However, there are other people who celebrate the Lunar New Year, commonly known as the Chinese New Year.  It is also important to know that just because this holiday is known as Chinese New Year, it is for everyone.  The Lunar  New Year is celebrated by many different people and many cultures.  Lunar New Year falls between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. It does not have a set date because the date goes off the lunar calendar.  This year it takes place on Jan. 22. 

The Lunar New Year is a very important festival in China and other Asian countries. It is a holiday that is celebrated in most East Asian countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Philippines, and Indonesia. There are many different traditions and customs people follow in hope for a good year. This holiday lasts for 16 days, and each day has a different custom. The first seven days of the celebration are considered a public holiday. Of the 16 days, the most important day is considered New Year’s Eve. 

Each year has a different zodiac animal, and with that animal is a meaning. 2023 is the “Year of the Rabbit” and is predicted to be a year of hope. 

          “Lunar New Year is a time-honored festival celebrated by multiple countries in Asia, and it is increasingly popular in some Western countries,” according to the article titled “10 Quick Facts About Lunar New Year” from the China Highlights International Travel Service. 

While this holiday is commonly called the Chinese New Year, it is meant for anyone that would like to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The Lunar New Year is a holiday that celebrates the coming of the New Year and the coming of spring. While this is a holiday that a lot of Asian countries celebrate, it is not limited to certain ethnicities. It also has different names in different countries that chose to celebrate this holiday. This holiday is a time for family, new beginnings, feasting, and honoring ancestors. 

While this is a very important holiday in China, it is also an important holiday for other ethnicities and cultures. It is a holiday that is celebrated in most East Asian countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Philippines, and Indonesia. This is a celebration that is meant for everyone no matter your ethnicity or culture.While most people don’t celebrate the Lunar New Year here at Freedom, there are many events that do celebrate it near Pittsburgh. You could also just stay home and have some Chinese food, or perhaps you won’t celebrate it at all, which is perfectly fine. This is a holiday that everyone should celebrate in their own way, no matter what that looks like for you. No matter if you celebrate the holiday or not please remember to always be respectful and understanding of anyone that does celebrate this holiday. As for any holiday or tradition whether you celebrate it or not. For some people this could be a really big day for them and for others it could be just another day.

 “Regional customs and traditions vary widely but share the same theme: seeing out the old year and welcoming in the luck and prosperity of a new year.” according to China Highlights. “Chinese New Year 2023: Traditions/Greetings/Food for a Lucky Rabbit Year.” 

Lunar New Year has deep roots in Chinese culture. People have been celebrating this holiday for around 3,500 years. During this holiday, people think that it is very important to honor their lost  loved ones, as well as their ancestors. People will set out a cup at the table for a lost family member on New Year’s Eve, as they believe it brings back their spirit. People are also heavily encouraged to come home to their family on New Year’s Eve to have a dinner that is called a “reunion dinner.”  During this meal, generations of people come together to have a nice meal and reunite as a family. At this dinner, people will give gifts to others. The most popular gifts are red envelopes that are filled with money. Kids are the main people that receive these gifts; however, others will also receive them such as the older members of the family. People that are gifted a red envelope are wished a safe and peaceful year. Other gifts that are given are tea, candles, fruit, and alcohol. 

On New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve, people wear red to ward off evil spirits that may enter their home. People also put up red decorations, not only to celebrate, but to ward off evil spirits. People also thoroughly clean their houses before the festival to sweep the bad luck away. To celebrate, on New Year’s Eve at midnight, people will set off fireworks and firecrackers to scare off the bad spirits and welcome the New Year. Lion and dragon dances are also performed to bring good luck this year. 

During the Lunar New Year, there are a lot of superstitions and myths that people follow to hopefully have a good New Year. Some of these superstitions are that people will not sweep on New Year’s Day. 

While it seems like many students do not celebrate this holiday, everyone is welcome to celebrate it. It is also important to make sure that you are polite about others’ celebrations or customs. This is a very interesting holiday as it has deep roots in many cultures. Most of the traditions have a deep meaning behind them and are very important to the origin of the holiday.