It’s time for Lunar New Year. How it’s celebrated, plus events in the Triangle
Happy Lunar New Year! This weekend, China’s most important holiday will begin. Here’s what to know about it.
What is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year takes place annually between January and February. The celebration is tied to agricultural practices in ancient China, when farmers would look to the moon to guide when they’d sow and harvest their crops, TIME reported.
The celebrations begin on the second new moon after the winter solstice. This marks a new annual cycle on the lunisolar calendar and welcomes springtime.
This holiday is also called the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival. The holiday originated in China, but it’s widely celebrated across the globe, mostly in eastern and southeastern Asia.
How is Lunar New Year celebrated?
Here are some of the main components of Lunar New Year:
▪ Red everywhere: This is the color of joy and fortune in Chinese culture. Red decor begins to make its way throughout communities weeks before Lunar New Year.
Bright red money envelopes are typically given to children and unmarried adults at the start of the holiday. These are called “hong bao” in Mandarin or “lai see” in Cantonese.
▪ Special foods: Many foods are special because their translations sound similar to another significant word. A few examples:
Nian gao is a sweet and sticky rice cake. It can also mean “higher year.”
Yú means both “fish” and “surplus” in Mandarin.
Gam means both “tangerine” and “gold” in Cantonese.
Other foods are eaten because of how they look. In South Korea, small circular sticky rice cakes in broth are served to symbolize longevity and prosperity, as the rice cakes look like coins.
Chinese communities will eat half-moon-shaped dumplings because the shape looks like the ancient Chinese gold ingots, which were used as currency for over 1,000 years. Then ball-shaped dumplings are eaten closer to the end of the holiday to resemble the full moon, which rises on the last day of the holiday, according to National Geographic.
▪ Lion dances: Lions represent power and wisdom in Chinese culture. Lion dances are performed on big occasions, especially Lunar New Year.
▪ Fireworks: Legends say “Nian,” who’s half-dragon and half-lion monster, comes out of hiding and attacks during the Lunar New Year, per Case Western Reserve University.
Fireworks work to scare him away.
▪ Spring cleaning: Before the new year begins, Chinese families will often clean their entire homes, getting rid of last year’s bad luck.
For the first few days of the Spring Festival, tradition says the broom needs to be stored, that way the new luck won’t be swept away.
▪ Travel: The Spring Festival is China’s largest festival, and hundreds of millions of Chinese celebrators will return to their hometowns — even overseas — to enjoy the time with their families.
China’s holiday travel congestion even has a name: “spring migration.” A traditional reunion feast typically takes place on the first night of the holiday.
When does Lunar New Year start? How long does it last?
The holiday lasts 15 days and finishes with the Lantern Festival.
In 2023, the official start date is Sunday, Jan. 22, which will usher in the Year of the Rabbit.
What is the Year of the Rabbit?
The rabbit is one of 12 Chinese Zodiac animals assigned per year on a rotation. We are currently in the year of the tiger.
In Chinese mythology, a god asked all animals to meet him to say goodbye before his departure from earth, and the 12 animals arrived in the following order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
People are assigned Chinese Zodiac animals based on their birth year. Rabbits are considered to be trustworthy, empathetic, modest, diplomatic, sincere, sociable and caretakers.
In Vietnam, the fourth animal in the Zodiac is a cat, not a rabbit. For Vietnamese people, this Lunar New Year will bring the Year of the Cat.
What is the Lantern Festival?
The Lantern Festival is the last day of the holiday. Tradition says lanterns were used toward the end of the new year to guide Chinese gods by torchlight, per Columbia University. Families would each create an elaborate paper lantern for this purpose.
Now, children will parade outside with colorful lanterns. A common Lantern Festival activity is to guess answers to riddles written on slips of paper on on lanterns.
Lunar New Year events in Raleigh, Durham
Here’s how you can celebrate the Lunar New Year in the Triangle:
• Children’s Lunar New Year Celebration: Ring in the Lunar New Year a few days early. Enjoy a story, crafts and games. Children in Kindergarten through 5th grade and their families are invited. When: Friday, Jan. 20, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Where: Oberlin Regional Library, 1930 Clark Ave, Raleigh Tickets: Free Info: wakegov.com
• Artspace Winter Family Day: Join Artspace for our free Winter Family Day celebrating Lunar New Year and the “When We Are Still Together” exhibition by Jan-Ru Wan. When: Saturday, Jan. 21, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Artspace, 201 East Davie St, Raleigh Tickets: Free Info: Search “Artspace Winter Family Day” on Eventbrite.com
• Lunar New Year Celebration with Triangle Pop-Up: Join for a celebration of Lunar New Year. Shop from AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) owned businesses, eat delicious food and celebrate the year of the Rabbit/Cat. Food trucks joining will be Golden K Dog, Lao Lao and Southern Fried Lumpia Co. There will be a raffle to benefit North Carolina Asian Americans Together. When: Saturday, Jan. 21, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: The Fruit, 305 South Dillard St, Durham Info: durhamfruit.com
• Dragon Puppets at the Library: Join for a drop-in event to make a paper chain dragon puppet at Southgate Community Library in Raleigh. When: Saturday, Jan. 21, 1-3 p.m. Where: Southgate Community Library, 1601-14 Cross Link Rd, Raleigh Tickets: Free Info: wakegov.com
• Lunar New Year Celebration at Lake Lynn: Enjoy games, crafts, and the famous Lion Dance. Featuring performances and demonstrations by Wah Lum Kung Fu of Raleigh and special partners. The Bulkogi food truck will be on site with some delectable delights available for purchase. This event is brought to you by the Cultural Outreach and Enrichment (COE) Program, Wah Lum Kung Fu of Raleigh and Lake Lynn Community Center. When: Sunday, Jan. 22, 2-4 p.m. Where: Lake Lynn Community Center, 7921 Ray Rd, Raleigh Tickets: Free. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Info: raleighnc.gov
• Music at the Library: Celebrating the Chinese New Year: Join for an hour of classical Chinese music, performed by the student musicians of Lisa Zou’s Music Studio to celebrate the Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Rabbit. When: Sunday, Jan. 22, 2-3 p.m. Where: West Regional Library, 4000 Louis Stephens Dr, Cary Tickets: Free Info: wakegov.com
• Lunar New Year Celebration at NC State: Come celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with the Office of Global Engagement. Celebrate this popular Asian holiday through music, food and different cultural activities. When: Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7-9 p.m. Where: NC State University, Talley Student Union, Mountains/Piedmont Ballrooms Info: global.ncsu.edu/event/lunar-new-year-celebration
• 2023 Chinese New Year Festival: Enjoy performances, authentic Chinese and International food and drink for purchase and family-friendly activities. When: Saturday, Jan. 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: NC State Fairgrounds’ Dorton Arena Tickets: $7 online and $10 at the door. Tickets are sold at Grand Asia Market , A&C Supermarket, Today Asia Market, Li Ming’s Global Mart and Raleigh Chinese Language School (RCLS). Kids under 6 are free. TACAS members, seniors (65+) and military with ID are $7. Info: nctacas.org
• CCL Chinese New Year Story Time: Join local educator Wendy Deason for a special Chinese New Year story time. Learn a Chinese New Year song, hear a story in Chinese, see a dragon dance, and learn about traditional Chinese clothing. Children are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities including a zodiac game to ring in the Lunar New Year. Best for families with children ages 3+. When: Sunday, Jan. 28, 2-3 p.m. Where: Chatham Community Library, 197 NC Hwy 87 N, Pittsboro Tickets: Free. Info: chathamcountync.gov
• Lunar New Year Performance at NC Museum of Art: This pop-up kungfu performance will be outdoors at the North Carolina Museum of Art in the Ellipse. When: Saturday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. Where: The Ellipse at the NC Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh Tickets: Free Info: Search “Pop-up Performance @the NCMA Ellipse” on Facebook.com
Missed any events you think we should include? Email ask@newsobserver.com.
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