Asian American communities around the U.S. are gearing up to celebrate the Lunar New Year on Feb. 10. Also known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea, it is a major festival celebrated in numerous Asian countries and by diaspora communities worldwide. The festival begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon, falling between late January and mid-February each year. This year, 2024, it is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac.
Different countries across Asia celebrate the new year in various ways and follow different zodiacs. For example, the Vietnamese zodiac honors the cat instead of the rabbit and the buffalo instead of the ox. Legend has it that the 12 animals of the zodiac measure the cycles of time, the dragon being one of them.
Many traditions and beliefs surround the Lunar New Year, including removing bad luck and welcoming good fortune and prosperity. Red is considered an auspicious color symbolizing good fortune and joy and is commonly used in clothing, decorations, and envelopes given to loved ones. Ancestor worship is also common, with various rituals and ceremonies taking place during the festival.
Members of Asian American communities across the U.S. celebrate with parades, carnivals, lion and dragon dances, fireworks, traditional food, and cultural performances. Special foods for the new year vary according to each culture, including dumplings, rice cakes, spring rolls, tangerines, fish, and meats. For example, the Chinese celebrate with “changshou mian” or “long-life noodles,” while the Vietnamese have traditional dishes made from glutinous rice.
The Lunar New Year is also celebrated as a cultural event by some Asian American Christians and is observed by several Catholic dioceses across the U.S., as well as other churches. This year’s celebrations are expected to bring together communities from different Asian cultures to ring in the Year of the Dragon in a joyful and colorful manner.
Source
Photo credit apnews.com