The Lunar New Year, widely known in China as the Spring Festival, stands as one of the most vibrant and deeply rooted celebrations in Asian culture. Though often referred to as the “Chinese New Year” in the Western world, this occasion is observed across multiple regions, including South Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore.
The Annual Migration: How Lunar New Year is Celebrated in Asia
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A new moon phase marks the start of a cycle filled with rituals, mass travel, and festivities that can span up to 15 days.
This period, essential to the cultural identity of millions, captivates global attention for its blend of customs, beliefs, and practices that merge the mystical with the modern.
Throughout history, the Lunar New Year has cultivated a rich repertoire of myths and ceremonies aimed at warding off misfortune and strengthening family bonds.
At the start of each cycle, what many consider the planet’s largest human migration takes place, as millions return to their hometowns to share meals, exchange gifts, and—in many cases—field questions from relatives eager for updates on weddings or grandchildren.
Yet beyond the crackle of firecrackers or temple celebrations, this holiday also reflects a unique understanding of time and family, offering a window into ancestral traditions and contemporary concerns.
Spring Festival: Why Does the Date Change Every Year?
The Spring Festival is rooted in the lunisolar calendar. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which follows Earth’s orbit around the sun, Lunar New Year celebrations depend on the sighting of the new moon between late January and mid-February.
This shifting date isn’t unique to China: Countries like South Korea (where the holiday is called Seollal) and Vietnam (whose Tet incorporates distinct Vietnamese customs) also join in welcoming the new season.
The term “Spring Festival” (春节) stems from the belief that each Lunar New Year marks the start of a fertile season tied to nature’s renewal and the blossoming of new endeavors.
For many, it’s the ideal time to shed the previous year’s negativity and welcome blessings, prosperity, and success. By focusing on family and hopes for good fortune, this period serves as a symbol of community cohesion and renewed optimism.
Lunar New Year: Millions Travel to Reunite with Family
One of the most iconic aspects of the Lunar New Year is the massive travel surge in the weeks leading up to the holiday.
People living in major cities return to their rural hometowns to reunite with loved ones. This phenomenon involves millions of travelers, creating logistical challenges for roads, trains, and airports.
In China, this migration is called chunyun, while in South Korea, over half the population is estimated to travel for family gatherings. Despite the chaos, the reunion is worth it—feasting on traditional banquets, exchanging gifts, and the highly anticipated handing out of red envelopes (hongbao in Chinese) filled with money, symbolizing wishes for prosperity.
Ultimately, these gatherings reinforce bonds and affirm the central role of family in Asian culture.
Lunar New Year Superstitions: Rituals for Good Fortune
Superstition plays a prominent role during the Lunar New Year. For those who follow tradition, the holiday’s first days are critical for setting the tone of good luck for the coming year.
Among the most widespread beliefs: avoid washing clothes or hair on the first day to prevent “washing away” good fortune. Similarly, taking out the trash is forbidden, as it’s seen as discarding accumulated luck.
Celebrations also include temple offerings for protection and prosperity. In many cities, crowds gather at dawn to light incense and participate in communal ceremonies.
This is a moment steeped in mysticism, where gratitude is expressed for past blessings and divine aid is sought for the new cycle. Beyond cleaning taboos, other unique restrictions catch Western eyes.
In parts of China, buying shoes during the first lunar month is avoided because the Cantonese word for “shoe” (haai) sounds like “sigh” or “loss.” Purchasing footwear during this time is considered a bad omen. Conversely, actions that linguistically attract prosperity are embraced.
For example, hanging the Chinese character fu (福, “fortune”) upside down is common. This wordplay (dao, meaning “invert” and also “arrive”) creates a pun suggesting prosperity is about to flood the home.
The Love Business: Renting Partners for Lunar New Year
The Lunar New Year can be stressful for singles, as family gatherings often involve relentless questioning about relationship status.
To sidestep relentless family surveys about their relationship status, some unmarried individuals in China have turned to ‘renting’ temporary partners during the holiday.
Through online platforms, people hire someone to pose as a boyfriend or girlfriend to placate parents and grandparents.
This trend has become a thriving business, with fees varying based on the rental duration and level of affection displayed.
Though controversial, this custom highlights the traditional emphasis on marriage and stability while revealing how digital culture is reshaping societal norms.
The Power of Red and Thunderous Sounds
Red—the color of luck and joy—dominates doors, windows, and clothing. According to legend, a lion-dragon monster named Nian terrorized villages during this time.
Its weaknesses were loud noises and the color red, prompting people to decorate streets with red and light fireworks to scare it away.
This symbolism even extends to red underwear, which in some regions is phonetically linked to the Cantonese word for “wealth” (fu). Many believe wearing red undergarments wards off evil spirits and ensures a prosperous year. Today, while the myth may sound whimsical, the tradition thrives, with families buying red items to reinforce hopes for a bright future.
Traditional Lunar New Year Dishes and Their Meanings
Families prepare dishes symbolizing abundance and unity.
Among the most popular is nian gao (sticky rice cake), whose chewy texture represents close family ties. Another staple is babaofan (“eight-treasure rice”), combining nuts, dried fruits, and other ingredients symbolizing wealth and blessings.
Sweet snacks, meanwhile, are seen as a way to “sweeten” the coming year.
Candies, preserved fruits, and seeds are arranged on decorative trays, their variety and colors sparking conversation. Each bite is tied to a positive wish: longevity, peace, health, or harmony. In this feast of flavors, the palate becomes a bridge connecting tradition to faith in a fortunate destiny.
Lunar New Year Movies: Family Comedies and Happy Endings
In China and Hong Kong, a film genre tailored for this season exists. Known as hesuipian, these movies blend comedy, happy endings, and family-centric plots to boost holiday cheer.
Their purpose mirrors Western Christmas films: promoting unity and joy. Classics like All’s Well, Ends Well starred major celebrities and still deliver messages of reconciliation and togetherness.
Beyond cinema, music and TV also embrace Lunar New Year themes. Variety shows and game specials dominate Asian networks, while technology fuels social media interactions—virtual greetings and holiday memes spread widely online.
Between Tradition and Modernity: How Lunar New Year Reinvents Itself
While the Western calendar marks linear time, for millions, the Lunar New Year closes one chapter and opens another filled with resolutions, offerings, and reunions.
The fusion of ancient legends, mass events, and modern technology creates a cultural mosaic that reinvents itself yearly—yet remains anchored in family and community ties.
Ultimately, the Spring Festival reflects the strength of a living tradition that adapts its rituals to globalization’s realities.
The street revelry, gifts, red attire, and traditional dishes remain rooted in age-old beliefs, yet now coexist with social media and digital solutions to navigate family pressures or keep the festive spirit alive across distances.
In this way, the Lunar New Year endures as a testament to cultural resilience and a celebration that, year after year, reminds humanity of the importance of shared joy.
Mike Rivero — Chinese Esotericism and Superstitions
