On Feb. 17, over 1.4 billion Chinese (world population of 8 billion) around the globe
will celebrate the Luna New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in China, Tết in
Vietnam, and Seollal in Korea.
The first day of the new year arrives on a different date each year because it is
based on the lunar calendar.
Every new year is represented by one of 12 zodiac creatures, creating a 12-year cycle.
They are, in order, Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit. Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. 2026 is the year of the
Horse.
The 15-day new year celebration is the most significant event for the Chinese people.
The new year holiday travel season is considered the world’s biggest annual mass migration
of people. In China alone, almost nine billion trips will be made using public transport
by hundreds of millions of Chinese traveling home for celebration. Why is the Lunar New Year
so significant?
It strengthens family ties. One important gathering for Chinese families is the reunion
dinner on new year’s eve (Feb. 16 this year), a coming together and bonding as a family.
The dinner symbolizes an auspicious start to the new year. For those who are unable
to go home for the dinner, joining another family for the celebration is also a blessing.
I have missed 42 consecutive reunion dinners with my family since I arrived in America
in 1983.
It emphasizes respect and caring. On the first day of the new year, the oldest and
most senior members of the family will be visited. It is a tradition to present them
with red packets, usually containing money, to wish them longevity and good health.
Children and unmarried young adults are also given the red packets to wish them good health
and success in their educational and/or professional endeavors.
It focuses on starting the new year well. For example, certain foods are considered
desirable during the Lunar New Year, such as noodles symbolizing longevity, dumplings
symbolizing wealth an good fortune, sweet rice balls symbolizing family togetherness, tangerines and oranges symbolizing good
luck, fish symbolizing surplus and abundance, abalone symbolizing good fortune, oysters
symbolizing good news, and candies symbolizing sweetness in life. Symbolism is also found in the color of clothing during the Chinese
celebration. Red, gold, and yellow, for example, are considered auspicious colors.
Black, grey, and white are usually associated with occasions such as funerals and
mourning ceremonies, thus making them inappropriate.
It renews and builds relationships. Visiting with families and friends is a large
part of the new year celebration. Bearing gifts such as fruit (typically oranges),
cakes, biscuits and candies are common. During the 15-day observance, some types of
gifts are avoided, such as cutting utensils that symbolize termination of a relationship,
clocks that symbolize death and funeral, umbrellas that symbolize disintegration,
pears that symbolize separation, and shoes that symbolize an evil omen.
The celebration connects us to the larger universe. The seventh day (Feb. 23 this
year) of the first lunar month is called literally, Human Day. My parents used to
remind me that it's considered the birthday of humankind because people were created
that day; other living things were created in the first six days. Many will celebrate
the seventh day with fish ceviche that symbolizes abundance.
The 15th day of the new year (Mar. 3 this year) is the last day of celebration and
marks the first full moon, also known as the Lantern Festival. Usually a dinner is
held with colorful lanterns, dumplings, oranges, and tea. Families and friends will
gather again to enjoy the beauty of the first full moon and each other’s company.
On this my 43rd Lunar New Year in America, I wish all of us the gifts of family, friendship,
love, well-being, respect, caring, gratitude, and understanding. Happy Lunar New Year.