Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year starts on the first day of the new year according to the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. There is a new moon on that day. In the Gregorian calendar used in other countries, Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year. It is usually between January 21 and February 20. In 2013, Chinese New Year is on February 10 and, in 2014, it is on January 31.
China
The Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is the most important holiday for ethnic Chinese people all around the world. The Chinese calendar and dates are traditionally based on changes of the moon, not the sun. The New Year starts at the beginning of this lunar calendar, and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day.
The Chinese New Year is celebrated for fifteen days. On the holiday's eve, families come together to eat a meal in the evening. This meal is called the reunion dinner. No matter how far away they are, Chinese people will try to visit with their families at least this one time of the year. not only enjoying the meal, but also watching a New Year Eve's television gala with family members.
Chinese people visit their grandparents, parents, friends and relatives during the first few days of the New Year. The older and married people give the younger ones red envelopes called hóngbāo in Mandarin Chinese. This packet has money inside it.
Chinese people wear new clothes when they go on visits. This clothing is usually red in color. They also say special phrases to wish other people good luck when they see them.
Korea
Korean New Year, commonly known as Seollal, is the most important of the traditional Korean holidays. It consists of a period of celebrations, starting on New Year's Day. The Korean New Year holiday lasts three days, and is considered a more important holiday than the solar New Year's Day (January 1).
Korean new Year is typically a family holiday. The three-day holiday is used by many to return to their hometowns to visit their parents and other relatives, where they perform an ancestral ritual. Many Koreans dress up in colorful traditional Korean clothing called hanbok. But nowadays, small families tend to become less formal and wear other formal clothing instead of hanbok.
Tteokguk (soup with sliced rice cakes) is a traditional Korean food that is customarily eaten for the New Year. According to Korean age reckoning, the Korean New Year is similar to a birthday for Koreans, and eating tteokguk is part of the birthday celebration. Once you finish eating your tteokguk, you are one year older.
Sebae is a traditionally observed activity. Children wish their elders (grandparents, aunts and uncles, parents) a happy new year by performing one deep traditional bow. Parents typically reward this gesture by giving their children new year's money, or "pocket money," in luck bags made with beautiful silk design. Before and during the bowing ceremony, children wear hanboks as a respectful way to appreciate ancestors and elders.
Taiwan
The celebration of the traditional New Year in Taiwan is very similar to that in China. The Taiwanese New Year is like a birthday because, by Taiwanese reckoning, you are one year older on New Year's Day. The night of New Year's Eve, Taiwanese children try to stay awake all night to bring long life to their parents. Taiwanese visit relatives during the first few days of the New Year and the older and married people give the younger ones red envelopes stuffed with money (âng-pau).
Vietnam
Tết or Vietnamese New Year is the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated on the same day as Chinese New Year. It takes place from the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar until at least the third day. Many Vietnamese prepare for Tết by cooking special holiday foods and cleaning the house. There are a lot of customs practiced during Tết, such as visiting a person's house on the first day of the new year (xông nhà), ancestral worshipping, wishing New Year's greetings, giving lucky money to children and elderly people, and opening a shop.
Tết is also an occasion for pilgrims and family reunions. During Tết, Vietnamese visit their relatives and temples, forgetting about the troubles of the past year and hoping for a better upcoming year.
Mongolia
Mongolian Lunar New Year, commonly known as Tsagaan Sar (literally "white moon") is the first day of the year according to the Mongolian lunar calendar. The date is often but not always the same as Chinese New Year and Tibetan New Year. The White Moon festival is celebrated two months after the first new moon following the winter solstice and is one of the most important Mongol holidays.
Around the New Year, families burn candles at the altar symbolizing enlightenment. Mongols also visit friends and family on this day and exchange gifts. A typical Mongol family will meet in the home dwelling of the eldest in the family. Many people will be dressed in full garment of national Mongol costumes. When greeting their elders during the White Moon festival, Mongols perform the zolgokh greeting, grasping them by their elbows to show support for them. After the ceremony, the extended family eats rice with curds (tsagaa), dairy products and buuz and drinks airag, and exchanges gifts.
Tibet
Losar is the Tibetan word for "new year" and is the most important holiday in Tibet. Losar is celebrated for 15 days, with the main celebrations on the first three days. Losar occurs near or on the same day as the Chinese New Year and the Mongolian New Year, but the traditions of Losar are unique to Tibet, and predate both Indian and Chinese influences.