Lunar New Year marks the first new moon on the lunar calendar. It falls between mid-January and mid-February every year. The lunisolar calendar has 12 to 13 months, with a leap month every few years to keep it from falling too far behind the Western, Gregorian calendar, said Seattle Chinese cookbook author Hsiao-Ching Chou, whose newest book is “Feasts of Good Fortune.”
Historically, when societies revolved around agriculture, people would party twice a year: spring and fall.
“That is when farmers get to rest and enjoy the fruits of their hard work,” Thai said. “Eventually, it grew into these big festivals. The mark of a new year is the mark of a new season, new growth, new opportunities.”
In China, Lunar New Year is called the Spring Festival because it marks the beginning of spring, said Chan Lü, an associate professor in the University of Washington’s Department of Asian Languages and Literature.
“In the old times, you work hard for a whole year and now it’s a good time to relax, rest and enjoy what you have earned,” Lü said. “In modern times, it’s celebrated just like Thanksgiving reunion. In China, we say it’s about family and good food, and a two-week break.”
Over time and across continents, Lunar New Year traditions have evolved. Getting together with family might look a little different from how farmers did it centuries ago.
Upshaw is on a huge group chat on KakaoTalk that links her family in Korea, the U.S. East Coast and the Puget Sound area. In Korea, everyone gets time off work to travel to see family. But in the United States, Seollal gets slotted in when it’s more practical.
“As Korean Americans, we’ve just adopted doing these things during the American holidays,” Upshaw said. “It’s unfortunately easier.”
What’s behind the color red?
In Chinese and Vietnamese culture, red is the color for Lunar New Year. In China, there’s a folk tale about a ferocious beast named Nián, who would attack villages on New Year’s Eve.
“People found that this animal is scared of loud noises and the color red,” Lü said. “That’s why every time Nián comes, the villagers dress up in red, decorate everything in red and set off firecrackers, to scare Nián away.”
Every kid’s favorite part of Lunar New Year is receiving red envelopes (hóngbāo in Mandarin) stuffed with cash. In Korea, kids get cash too, but their envelopes are white because white symbolizes purity.
In China, another name for the red envelope is yāsuì qián (in Mandarin), which is a homophone for “money to suppress the little ghost,” said Lü.
“The small ghost will come out on New Year’s Eve to scare kids who are asleep,” Lü added. “People put money in red envelopes by the kids’ pillows so it will chase the ghost away. It’s like the tooth fairy.”
What are some other Lunar New Year traditions?
Michelle Trần’s family is Vietnamese and Chinese, and both cultures share similar practices aimed at bringing good fortune. They wear bright colors and hand out red envelopes. They decorate with kumquat trees and yellow hoa mai flowers, which symbolize prosperity.
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“We also clean the house before Tết and Lunar New Year,” said Trần, executive director of Tết in Seattle. “Sweep away bad luck, welcome good fortune. We avoid cleaning the first few days to prevent sweeping away good luck.”
When asked how she planned to celebrate Tết, Thai laughed. “Happy first day of session!” she said. (It was Jan. 13, opening day for the Washington state Legislature.)
Thai doesn’t have the luxury of time off work, but there’s a tradition she does quietly for herself.
“On the eve of the new year, I would burn incense and invite my ancestors who have passed away to come home and be with us,” Thai said. “We can update them on what’s happening with the kids. It’s one important day we can share with each other all the good, the bad, and just be together.”
What are some Lunar New Year foods?
Just like turkey and green bean casserole go with Thanksgiving, Lunar New Year comes with its own set of holiday foods.
Chinese people, for example, typically have a big feast with lucky foods such as spring rolls, dumplings, stir-fried lettuce, rice cake and whole fish, Chou said.
Vietnamese people typically eat bánh tét — a sticky rice cake with mung beans and pork wrapped in banana leaves. Other Tết dishes include braised pork with duck eggs, dried candies, boiled chicken and bitter melon soup, Trần said.
Seollal staples include jeon, which are small savory pancakes, and a noodle dish called japchae, Upshaw said. Tteokguk is a rice cake soup — important because the rice cakes are round like coins.
What do lion and dragon dances symbolize?
Mak Fai Kung Fu Dragon & Lion Dance Association, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in August, began the lion dance tradition in Seattle’s Chinatown International District in the ’80s. The group’s founder is Cantonese, and the members are largely Cantonese and Vietnamese.
Lion dances ward off evil spirits and welcome in the new year, said Martin Lau, a Mak Fai instructor who teaches lion stunts. The lion is supposed to be a symbol of strength and courage, and it’s believed to bring blessings to homes and businesses, Trần said. The dragon symbolizes power, prosperity and good fortune. And in China, the dragon dance is also performed to summon rain for the farms, Lau added.
Where is the biggest celebration in Seattle?
Last year, Mak Fai performed nearly 200 lion dances for Lunar New Year. The biggest event? “Prob the one in Chinatown,” Lau said in an Instagram direct message.
The CID celebration is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 22. The event is held outside, rain or shine. Organizers booked the date with an eye out for better weather in late February rather than late January.
Tết in Seattle takes place this weekend, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, at Seattle Center. It’s the largest Vietnamese New Year festival in the Seattle area; last year’s event drew 15,000 people.
What is the significance of zodiac animals? What does the snake symbolize?
The Chinese zodiac runs on a 12-year cycle, with a different animal for each year. Babies born this year will be snakes, as well as people turning 12, 24, 36 and so on. The Korean zodiac is largely the same.
While Tết is similar to Chinese New Year (and will also welcome the Year of the Snake), one difference is the Vietnamese zodiac uses a cat instead of a rabbit, and a water buffalo instead of an ox, Trần said.
Some people believe that the characteristics of their zodiac animal affect their personality, Lü said. For example, a dog person is different from a pig person. And snake people beware: your zodiac animal’s year is supposed to be a somewhat challenging year.
The snake is a mysterious and revered cultural symbol, Lü said. Snakes are coldblooded and sometimes poisonous, so they’re viewed as cold, mercurial or untrustworthy. On the plus side, snakes are also called “small dragon,” so they symbolize energy, exuberance and power.
JiaYing Grygiel: is a photographer and writer in Seattle. Find her on Instagram @photoj.seattle and at photoj.net.