Lunar New Year
An estimated 2 billion people celebrate Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival. The 15-day festival begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar, sometime between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20.
Lunar New Year is a national holiday in a number of Asian countries. Specific celebrations may vary according to each region - such as Tết in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea - but each traditional event holds great significance and meaning as a special time to honor family and as an expression of culture.
To prepare for Lunar New Year, people clean their homes to “sweep out” the old year and make space for the new one, but they are careful not to clean during the beginning of the New Year so that they do not "sweep out" good luck! They decorate with red lanterns and wall hangings, since red is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune.The celebration usually begins on New Year’s Eve with a family reunion feast featuring dishes like roast duck or steamed fish. Buddhists may choose to enjoy a vegetarian meal on New Year's day in keeping with religious observance.
Over the 15 days of the festival, noisy fireworks are set off. Legend says this tradition was begun in order to scare away Nian, a beast terrorizing a village. Dancers perform with colorful dragon or lion costumes that symbolize wisdom, power, and wealth. People also exchange hóngbāo, or small red envelopes containing money, usually given by the older members of a family to the younger ones. The final day of celebration corresponds with the full moon and ends with a spectacular display of colorful lights and lanterns.
Lunar New Year is generally seen as a time for purification and renewal, for reflection, visiting temples, making offerings and taking time to engage in acts of generosity, kindness, and compassion.