Red lanterns, a symbol of happiness and prosperity, firecrackers and dancing… enough to enter a new era honorably. Symbolized by one of the twelve signs of the zodiac – the pig, the dog, the rooster, the monkey, the goat, the snake, the dragon, the cat, the tiger, the buffalo or the rat – and one of the 5 elements – water, fire, metal, wood, or earth – Lunar New Year has many names. So why is “Chinese New Year” a misnomer?
“Seollal” in Korea, or “Têt” in Vietnam, while it is one of the most important events in Chinese tradition, it is also celebrated in several other Asian countries. Festivities take place in South Korea, Tibet, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, for example. So it’s not just regarding Chinese New Year, as is often said.
Everyone has their own calendar
Each new era takes place on a non-fixed date, calculated in relation to lunar cycles. For countries that follow the traditional Chinese calendar, renewal takes place on the second new moon following the winter solstice, between January and February. Otherwise, for Thailand or Nepal in particular, the transition to the new year takes place between March and April, according to the Hindu calendar.
In 2024, we celebrate the year of the Wooden Dragon, an animal believed to bring creativity and luck. In 2025, the Wooden Snake and in 2026 the Fire Horse.