We’ve all been hearing ALOT about the Chinese New Year (synonymous with the Lunar New Year) over the last month and I’ve seen questions floating around the web about the meaning, origin and appropriate ways to celebrate the holiday.
Do note that the Lunar New Year usually occurs around January 22nd, and the Chinese New Year is usually marked on February 1st and due to the close proximity in dates, they’re often interchanged as one in the same.
As someone with a deep respect for ancient cultures and traditions, I want to do a better job of sharing what I have learned or had passed to me from elders, culture keepers and beautiful humans on my travels, healing journey and divinity studies. It goes without saying that it is not my direct lineage or culture, but that I am a guest in these traditions. My writing is at the intersection of research and storytelling so I hope you’ll share my enthusiastic curiosity to learn and integrate some things of old, that still have much to teach us about our interconnectedness, today. And thanks to the internet, and the happy side of globalization, even if you can’t make the journey to Asia, you can still participate in this special time of year. The Lunar New Year is also an important cultural event to communities in the United States of America as well, with many cities hosting parades, performances, and other cultural events to celebrate the holiday.
For example, in San Francisco, the Chinese New Year Parade is one of the most popular and well-attended events of the year, and features elaborate floats, lion and dragon dances, and other traditional performances.
I personally believe that because the Lunar New Year falls at the beginning of the calendar year, it’s placed at an opportune time for all of us to take inventory of who we are now…after the cadre of experiences we’ve had over the prior year. 2022 was rocky to say the least and I cannot wait to ramp up my vision boarding to include some research and planning with the new design of my life. This research and inventory taking can look so many different ways…whatever feels authentic to you. Some ideas to get you started might include taking some personality quizzes and getting a full personal report; pulling a birth chart for yourself and start learning what energetic imprints keep showing up in your life; or amplify your vision board work with a sri yantra (sacred meditation tool and ancient Eastern Asian symbol for wealth, prosperity and success).
The Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is a traditional holiday celebrated by many cultures around the world, particularly in East Asia. The holiday marks the beginning of a new lunar calendar and is typically celebrated with family gatherings, feasts, and the exchange of gifts. The origins of the Lunar New Year can be traced back to ancient China, where it was believed that the festivities were a way to pay homage to ancestors and gods, and to bring good luck and prosperity in the coming year. The holiday was also a time for people to put aside their differences and come together as a community. Today, the Lunar New Year is celebrated by millions of people around the world, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and other East Asian communities. In China, the holiday is officially recognized as a public holiday, and many businesses and government offices close for the occasion.
One of the most important aspects of the Lunar New Year is the emphasis on family. Many people travel long distances to be with their families for the holiday, and large family gatherings are a common occurrence. This is also a time for forgiveness, and for resolving any conflicts or misunderstandings that may have occurred during the previous year. The color red is considered auspicious and is prominently used during the festival, from red lanterns and banners to red clothing.
Overall, the Lunar New Year is a time for celebrating family, community, and culture. It is a time for forgetting past mistakes and looking forward to a new year filled with good luck and prosperity.
References:
- https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/chinese-new-year/
- https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/chinese-new-year
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-41182418
- https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/china/chinese-new-year
Photo by Yuwei Shaw on Unsplash
Disclosure: House of SOLEIL is community-supported. This post contains affiliate links meaning we get a small commission if you decide to purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Thank you!
