The Lunar New Year is fast approaching and to celebrate, we’ve brought together some fun fast facts and resplendent riveting reads. Lunar New Year is celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar, which is February 1st this year. In China, it’s called the Spring Festival. In Korea, it’s Seollal. In Vietnam, it’s Tết Nguyên Đán. The date changes every year, however the festivities, the family feasts of lucky foods, and the hopes and wishes for good luck that come with a new year remain the same. This special day is celebrated by families across the globe, each with their own traditions to bring in good luck.
In China, festivities last for 15 days and include cleaning the home, visiting friends, gathering with family and exchanging red envelopes filled with money. Traditional foods include fagao, a fluffy steamed cake meant to bring prosperity, a whole steamed fish, and dumplings folded to look like traditional Chinese money.
In Vietnam, some families will prepare enough meat dishes to last for three days (before and after new year) because killing an animal on the first day of the new year is considered bad luck.
In Korea, people will don traditional clothes, gather to exchange gifts, play games and, of course, enjoy a big meal with family. Traditional foods include Tteokguk, or rice cake soup, and Manduguk, or dumpling soup.
No matter where you are from, Lunar New Year is a time to celebrate, hope for better days ahead and most importantly, appreciate our families and friends. The Library wishes you all a happy Lunar New Year and lots of good food! To learn more about Lunar New Year or for a fun story to share over that banquet of lucky foods, check out these books from the Library:
In China, it's the Spring Festival. In Korea, it's Seollal. In Vietnam, it's Tet. Check out these fascinating reads for facts and stories about Lunar New Year, the first day of the lunar calendar, celebrated across the globe.
Sources:
Encyclopædia Britannica. (n.d.). Lunar New Year. Britannica School. Retrieved January 25, 2022, from https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Lunar-New-Year/438707
ProQuest. (2022). China: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?&contid=3&wmn=Asia&cn=China&sname=Holidays&snid=16&cid=34.
Shirley, J. (2022). Chinese New Year. Retrieved January 25, 2022, from Scholastic GO!. https://go.scholastic.com/content/schgo/L/article/009/153/0091530-00.html
ProQuest. (2022). Vietnam: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?&contid=3&wmn=Asia&cn=Vietnam&sname=Holidays&snid=16&cid=173.
ProQuest. (2022). South Korea: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?&contid=3&wmn=Asia&cn=South_Korea&sname=Holidays&snid=16&cid=149.
Image Credit:
"Edmonton Chinese New Year 2015" by IQRemix is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse&atype=rich
