Happy New Year! 2023 is the year of the rabbit, and we are excited about what this year is to bring.
The Lunar New Year is an exciting time. The Lunar Year is based on the 12 phases of the moon. Each phase lasts about 29 days, with the full year being about 354 days. Unlike the celebrations of the traditional Gregorian calendar year, the Lunar New Year is celebrated over the span of 7-15 days, depending on specific cultural practices. Celebrating cultures include the Chinese, South Korean, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Filipino, Indonesian, and more.
The most common celebrations are focused on welcoming peace, abundance, and prosperity for the new year. Like most celebrations that take place across cultures, celebrations are a time to spend together with family. Lunar New Year celebrations usually include feasting on various delicious foods.
Some of the most common include fish for an increase in prosperity, dumplings and spring rolls for wealth, whole chicken for luck and wholeness, and sweet rice balls for family togetherness. Other traditions include cleaning the home to rid it of bad luck from the previous year. Additionally, respect is paid to the older generations while the older generations also give to the young for health and progress into the new year.
We would love to hear more about your favorite traditions. Go ahead and let us know what your plans are to celebrate the incoming year of the rabbit down in the comments below. Each Lunar Year is associated with an animal. It is believed that those born in the associated years have related traits to the specific animal. Those born this year will join those born in the years 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, and 2011. Common traits associated with the year of the rabbit include being caring, attentive to details, rule followers, successful in careers, and good at making friends. These individuals are also compatible with those born in the years of the sheep and pig. However, they are opposite the rooster.
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Celebrations will usually kick off with a Spring Festival and conclude with a Lantern Festival. Search “Lunar New Year Celebrations Near Me” to find ideas on how you can celebrate with others near you. Most celebrations will start on January 22nd, but many can be found over the next couple weeks.