What countries celebrate lunar new year?
Updated: July 18, 2024China
China is the most well-known country for celebrating Lunar New Year, often referred to as the Spring Festival. This significant holiday marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is celebrated with a variety of traditional customs, including family reunions, feasts, lion dances, and fireworks. The festival lasts for 15 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, Lunar New Year is known as Tết Nguyên Đán, or simply Tết. This is the most important celebration in Vietnamese culture, characterized by its rich customs such as cooking traditional foods (banh chung, banh tet), visiting family and friends, and paying respects to ancestors. The streets are often decorated with peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and red envelopes containing money are given as gifts.
South Korea
South Korea celebrates Seollal, a three-day holiday that marks the Lunar New Year. The celebrations include wearing traditional hanbok clothing, performing ancestral rituals, and enjoying traditional foods like tteokguk (rice cake soup). Families often gather to play traditional games like yutnori and fly kites.
North Korea
North Korea also observes Lunar New Year, albeit with less fanfare compared to South Korea. The holiday is marked by family gatherings, traditional meals, and paying homage to ancestors. Public celebrations may include performances and cultural events, though these are typically more subdued.
Singapore
In multi-ethnic Singapore, Lunar New Year is a major public holiday, celebrated primarily by the Chinese community but enjoyed by all. The city comes alive with vibrant decorations, festive markets, and events such as the Chingay Parade. Traditional customs include family reunions, feasting on dishes like yusheng (prosperity toss salad), and giving red packets.
Malaysia
Malaysia, with its significant Chinese population, also celebrates Lunar New Year with great enthusiasm. The festivities include lion and dragon dances, fireworks, and open houses where families invite friends and neighbors to join in the celebrations. Traditional foods such as pineapple tarts and nian gao (sticky rice cake) are enjoyed.
Indonesia
Indonesia recognizes Lunar New Year as a public holiday, known locally as Imlek. Celebrations are marked by family gatherings, traditional meals, and cultural performances. In cities with large Chinese communities, such as Jakarta and Surabaya, you can witness vibrant decorations, lion dances, and temple visits.
Philippines
In the Philippines, Lunar New Year is celebrated by the Filipino-Chinese community. The holiday is marked by dragon and lion dances, family reunions, and feasting on traditional dishes such as tikoy (sweet rice cake). In cities like Manila, festive parades and fireworks displays are common.
Thailand
Thailand celebrates Lunar New Year, particularly in areas with large Chinese populations like Bangkok’s Chinatown. The festivities include dragon and lion dances, street performances, and traditional foods such as khao chae (rice soaked in jasmine-scented water). Temples are visited to pay respects and seek blessings.
Mongolia
In Mongolia, Lunar New Year is called Tsagaan Sar, or White Moon. The holiday is marked by family gatherings, feasting on traditional foods like buuz (steamed dumplings), and performing rituals to honor ancestors. Traditional games such as shagai (ankle bone shooting) are also played.
Tibet
Tibetans celebrate Losar, their version of Lunar New Year, which can last up to 15 days. The celebrations include religious ceremonies, feasting, and cultural performances. Traditional foods like guthuk (barley soup) are enjoyed, and homes are cleaned and decorated with auspicious symbols.
Japan
While Japan primarily celebrates New Year’s Day on January 1st, some regions and communities still observe the traditional Lunar New Year customs. This is more prevalent in areas with historical Chinese influence, such as Nagasaki’s Chinatown.
Other Countries
Several countries with significant Chinese diaspora communities also celebrate Lunar New Year. These include:
- United States: Cities with large Chinese populations, such as San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles, host parades and cultural events.
- Canada: Lunar New Year is celebrated in cities like Vancouver and Toronto with parades, lion dances, and festive markets.
- Australia: Sydney and Melbourne see vibrant celebrations with dragon boat races, performances, and cultural festivals.
- United Kingdom: London’s Chinatown hosts one of the largest Lunar New Year celebrations outside Asia, featuring parades and cultural performances.
The celebration of Lunar New Year spans a multitude of countries and cultures, each adding its unique flavor to the festivities. Whether it's the familial warmth of a Tết meal in Vietnam, the vibrant parades in Singapore, or the traditional rituals of Seollal in South Korea, the essence of Lunar New Year remains a time for renewal, family, and celebration.
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