Celebrate Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year is one of the biggest celebrations in the world, and in many places it’s a public festival as much as a family holiday. If you want to know how to celebrate Lunar New Year, you can go to a festival or parade near you, share a big meal with friends, or both. It’s an easy evening to plan, as long as you start by finding the date.

Find the date and a plan

Lunar New Year follows the lunar calendar, so the date changes every year. It usually falls in late January or in February. Look up this year’s date, and the year’s animal, since the zodiac cycles through twelve animals.

It is celebrated across East and Southeast Asia and in diaspora communities around the world. Chinese New Year, Korean Seollal and Vietnamese Tết are among the best-known versions, and each has its own customs, foods and greetings. Lunar New Year in one place isn’t the same as in another, so avoid treating them as a single thing.

Decide what kind of evening you want:

• A public celebration, such as a parade, a festival or a temple or community event. Many are open to everyone. Check the listing for the time and place.
• A meal with friends, at home or at a restaurant. A shared table is at the heart of many Lunar New Year customs.
• A quiet evening to learn and tidy your home for the new year.

What to wear and bring

Beyond the friends and the date on your list, red is a colour associated with luck and celebration in many Lunar New Year traditions, so something red, like a scarf, sweater or lipstick, is a nice touch. If you’re going to a festival outside, dress for the cold in layers and wear comfortable shoes. Bring a little cash for food stalls, since some small vendors may not take cards.

If someone invites you to their home, ask whether you should bring something. A box of fruit or candy is a common, easy gift in many places, but check with your host rather than guessing.

How to do it

1. Check the date and pick the evening.
2. Tidy up beforehand. Cleaning the home before the new year is a well-known custom in some traditions. A quick clean is a nice way to start, even if you’re only borrowing the idea.
3. Learn the animal. Look up the new year’s animal and what it traditionally stands for, and share it at dinner.
4. Share a meal. Dumplings are one popular choice, and you can cook them at home or order from a local restaurant. Cook for friends or go out and share dishes.
5. Go to an event, if there is one. Stand where you can see, and follow the organisers’ directions.
6. Greet people. Learn a greeting from the culture you’re celebrating with, and say it kindly.

Be a respectful guest

• Ask before you assume. A custom in one culture may not be one in another.
• Don’t turn it into a costume or a joke. Wear red because you like it, not as a theme.
• If you’re offered food or a red envelope, accept it with thanks. Red envelopes usually contain money, and they are often given by elders to younger people. If you’re a guest, wait to see what’s offered.
• Photograph people only after asking, especially at family gatherings.
• Learn the name of the holiday your host uses and use it.

What goes wrong

• You mix up the cultures. If you’re unsure, say “Lunar New Year” in general and ask people what they call it.
• Crowds and cold. Festivals can be packed. Arrive early and agree on a place to meet if you separate.
• You don’t know the food. Ask what a dish is. People usually like to explain.
• Fireworks and firecrackers. Many cities have rules and permits for them. Stand back and follow staff directions.
• A restaurant is full. It’s a busy time. Book ahead or go early in the evening.

After the evening

Look up what other days belong to the celebration in the culture you’re learning about. Many Lunar New Year festivals last several days, and some end with a lantern celebration. If you made new friends, ask them about their own traditions and what the holiday means to them.

Make it a winter evening

Eat something warm, wear your red scarf and stay out long enough to see the lights. A bowl of dumplings at home is an easy way to start, and the winter festival near you might be another good place to go next.