![]() The families in our programs are a good place to seek knowledge and cultural resources when we lack information related to a community or family celebration. By sharing different ways people celebrate the new year holidays, we are providing both mirrors and windows for the children in our classrooms: in some ways we are the same, in some ways we are different, and we can appreciate the differences. We are equipped with an anti-bias lens and professional development training to support their cultural identity development. The children in our programs are incredibly lucky to have us as their early educators. We also acknowledge that many Asian American and Pacific Islanders do not follow the Chinese/Lunar zodiac. In the Malay zodiac, the mousedeer replaces the rabbit. In the Vietnamese and Gurung (Central Nepal) zodiac, the cat replaces the rabbit. In the Chinese zodiac, 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. The 15th and final day of the holiday is the Lantern Festival, during which people have tangyuan, or sweet glutinous rice balls, and children carry lanterns around the neighborhood at night to mark the end of the celebration. This feast features a spread of symbolic dishes (such as a whole fish representing abundance) that brings good luck and fortune. The Lunar New Year’s Eve reunion dinner is the highlight that kicks off the holiday. At home, families decorate windows with red paper cuttings and adorn doors with couplets expressing auspicious wishes for the new year. It is the most important holiday in China, and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea, Vietnam, and countries with a significant overseas Chinese population.Ĭommonly known as the Spring Festival in China, Lunar New Year is a 15-day celebration marked by many traditions. It’s inspiring to see so many people come together for something bigger than themselves, and it makes us feel proud to be part of a global community.įor many ethnic groups, the Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunar calendar. No matter when you celebrate a new year, this time is typically filled with joy, excitement, and family gatherings. Other cultures celebrate their new year on different calendar dates-the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah), the Iranian/Persian New Year (Nowruz), the Islamic New Year (Muharram), and the Gregorian calendar New Year on January 1, to name a few. While it is celebrated by many Asian cultures, each ethnic group may celebrate differently for example, with fireworks, lion, and dragon dances in China, singing and dancing in Korea, or traditional dishes in Vietnam. ![]() This year, the Lunar New Year begins on January 22. ![]() The start of a new year occurs at different times depending on your calendar and culture. This collective celebration is a reminder that no matter how different our cultures may be, we are all united by one common time: the start of a new year. Every year, the whole world comes together to celebrate the start of a new year, regardless of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The new year is an incredibly important time that represents hope, new beginnings, and cultural unity around the world.
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