With the Chinese New Year approaching on Saturday, February 10, wait is it okay to still call it that? Are we meant to say Lunar New Year? Is there a more PC term? Are they the same thing? Let’s explore together what the Lunar/Chinese New Year is, what it’s about and what’s the difference.
LUNAR NEW YEAR:
Celebrated in different ways in different cultures and countries, the Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the calendar year.
CHINESE NEW YEAR:
Chinese New Year celebrates the new year in China and is the main festival there and has been for 3500 years. Each year the official date changes in range between January 21 and February 20. It falls on the second new moon after the Winter solstice (the longest day of the year) on December 21.
THE DIFFERENCE:
In more recent years, the terms have been used interchangeably when referring to festivities in Chinese communities, regardless of what country they are in. However, in a recent article by Wee Kek Koon from the South China Morning Post explains: "Many Chinese believe that the growing trend of saying ‘Lunar New Year’ is an insidious plot to erase the important festival’s Chinese origin and character."
THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON:
This year will kick off the Year of the Dragon, often thought of in Chinese culture as an extraordinary creature, comparable to none in talent and excellence. The Dragon symbolises power, nobility, success, luck and honour, making 2024 a year of opportunities, change and challenges. Anyone born in the Year of the Dragon is believed to be destined for good fortune and greatness.
THEN AND NOW:
Dating back 3500 years, the important festival has evolved over many years and while there are many historical traditions and customs, interestingly the government abolished the official lunar calendar in 1912 and instead adopted the Gregorian calendar, making January 1 the official start of the New Year – even in China.
THE ACTUAL FESTIVAL:
Lasting around 15 days or until the following full moon, the Chinese New Year festival (or Lunar New Year, given it follows the phases of the moon) or Spring festival, as it’s also called allows for a full consecutive seven days of public holiday in China.
The festival is a time for cleaning one’s home to rid residents of lingering bad luck. There are of course special foods on certain days and the crowning event is the Lantern Festival on the last day where people hang pretty lit-up lanterns and carry them in a parade or through temples.
You’ll also see people forming into a dragon formation and participating in a ‘dragon’ dance to symbolise good fortune and festivities underway.
