5 things you should know about the Year of the Rabbit and the Lunar New Year People all over the world, including those in Canada, sta...
5 things you should know about the Year of the Rabbit and the Lunar New Year
People all over the world, including those in Canada, started celebrating the Lunar New Year on Sunday and welcomed the Year of the Rabbit.
Here are five things you should know about the annual event that many Asian countries and ex-pat communities around the world celebrate:
What is the New Year of the lunar?
The Lunar New Year is China's most important holiday and is also celebrated in Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia, among other places. Some of the traditions of these countries and their descendants are the same, but most of the celebrations are unique to each country's culture.
The Lunar New Year is the first day of the lunar calendar, which is based on the moon's cycles and starts on a different day every year.
This Lunar New Year starts on January 22 and lasts for 15 days, from the first new moon of the lunar calendar to the first full moon.
What does "Year of the Rabbit" mean?
Now that the Year of the Tiger is over, the Chinese lunar calendar moves on to the Year of the Rabbit, which is the fourth year in the cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
In a cycle that keeps going, each year is named after one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac. There are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. They are the rat, the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog, and the pig. People believe that the zodiac is the key to understanding people's health, wealth, and love lives.
People who were born in the Year of the Rabbit, which includes 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, and every other 12-year cycle before that, are known to be calm, empathetic, patient, and creative. In Chinese culture, the rabbit represents long life, peace, and wealth, and the new year is expected to be full of hope.
The rest of Asia is celebrating the Year of the Rabbit, but the Vietnamese are celebrating the Year of the Cat. There is no official reason for the difference, but one theory is that cats are popular because they often help Vietnamese rice farmers get rid of rats.
How do people celebrate the holiday?
The COVID-19 pandemic has made Lunar New Year celebrations quieter for the past three years. The first day of the Lunar New Year is often celebrated at home with family, but parades and other public events are popular this year.
@jakadiya Some places are celebrating with events like street festivals, shows, mahjong tournaments, zodiac fortune telling, and more.
Different cultures have different celebrations, but the holiday is mostly about spending time with family. A lot of Chinese families get together for big traditional dinners. Some also go shopping and set off fireworks as part of their traditions.
What are lion dances?
Lion dances are a traditional form of dance in China and other Asian countries. They are often done at Lunar New Year celebrations when people dress up as lions and move like them. Tradition in China says that they bring good luck and that they are often done in front of shopping malls and businesses where there are big crowds.
The dances have been done for thousands of years. They are usually done in colorful costumes, with one dancer in front controlling a giant lion mask while another dancer in the back controls the body and legs. Drums and cymbals are often played loudly during the shows.
How about red packets?
Parents, married couples, and older family members often give unmarried young people and younger children red envelopes with cash and treat inside. This is a popular Lunar New Year tradition. People believe that the act will help get rid of bad spirits and bring good luck to the youth in the coming year.
In Chinese culture, the color red is thought to bring good luck, and money represents hope for wealth and plenty. During the holiday season, many people also wear red or hang up red-and-gold decorations, which also stand for luck and wealth.