What is the Lunar New Year Celebration?

The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a significant cultural and traditional holiday celebrated by many countries in Asia and around the world.

It is based on the lunisolar calendar (lunar calendar in rough agreement with the solar year), which means its date varies from year to year but usually falls between late January and mid-February.

Some people refer to this calendar as the “Traditional Chinese Calendar,” which is a calendar of 12 lunar months associated with the twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac.

How is the Lunar New Year Celebrated?

The celebrations typically last for about 15 days, with each day carrying its own customs and significance.

1. Preparation: Before the New Year, families thoroughly clean their homes to sweep away any ill fortune and make way for incoming good luck. They also decorate their houses with red lanterns, couplets, and other auspicious symbols.
2. Reunion Dinner: On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a lavish reunion dinner known as “tuan yuan fan.” It’s a time for family members to come together, share a feast, and exchange good wishes for the coming year.
3. Fireworks and Firecrackers: Traditionally, loud fireworks and firecrackers are set off at midnight to drive away evil spirits and welcome the New Year with a bang.
4. Red Envelopes (Hongbao): Adults give red envelopes filled with money to children and unmarried relatives as a symbol of good luck and prosperity.
5. Lion and Dragon Dances: Colorful lion and dragon dances are performed in streets and public places to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune.
6. Visiting Relatives and Friends: During the New Year period, people visit relatives and friends to exchange greetings, gifts, and well wishes.
7. Temple Visits: Many people visit temples to pray for blessings and good fortune in the coming year.
8. Lantern Festival: The Lunar New Year holiday period culminates with the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, marked by the lighting of lanterns, lantern parades, and various cultural performances.

Countries That Typically Celebrate the Lunar New Year

While the Lunar New Year may be celebrated in ethnic communities around the globe, including North America and Europe, the primary countries where the new year festival is celebrated are:

• China
• Hong Kong
• Indonesia (especially in areas with significant Chinese populations)
• Japan (though it’s less widely celebrated compared to other countries)
• Macau
• Malaysia
• Philippines (particularly in Filipino-Chinese communities)
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam

Each country may have its own unique traditions and customs, but the essence of family reunion, feasting, and wishing for prosperity and good fortune remains central across all celebrations.

How Does The Lunar New Year Impact Local Businesses?

In many countries and regions where Lunar New Year is celebrated, there are often significant disruptions to regular business activities during the holiday period.

While the extent of closures varies depending on cultural norms, government regulations, and individual business practices, it’s common for many stores, offices, and government institutions to close for at least a few days, if not the entire duration of the Lunar New Year festivities.

In countries with large Chinese communities like China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, it’s typical for businesses to close for several days to a week, allowing employees to spend time with their families and participate in the celebrations. Government offices, banks, and schools may also have extended closures during this period.

In other countries with smaller Chinese populations, such as Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the extent of closures may vary depending on the demographics of the area and the significance of the Lunar New Year within the local culture.

In predominantly Chinese areas, businesses are more likely to close for the holiday, while in more diverse regions, closures may be less widespread.

Bonus Tip for Sellers: Ecommerce sellers who engage in cross-border trade and ship goods to countries observing the Lunar New Year might experience delays in delivering shipments.

This is a result of government offices responsible for customs clearance, as well as government mail and private courier services, being closed or operating on a limited schedule during this time. These closures could lead to delays of up to two weeks for some shipments.

What Are the Starting Dates for the Next Three Lunar New Year Celebrations?

The starting dates of the Lunar New Year are based on the cycles of the moon as well as the position of the sun. The Lunar New Year typically falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which can occur between January 21st and February 20th in the Gregorian calendar.

To calculate the exact date, lunar astronomers use a system of intercalation, which involves adding extra months periodically to keep the lunar calendar in sync with the solar calendar. This ensures that the Lunar New Year aligns closely with the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

The next starting dates of the Lunar New Year are:

• February 10, 2024 (Chinese Calendar Year of the Dragon)
• January 29, 2025 (Chinese Calendar Year of the Snake)
• February 17, 2026 (Chinese Calendar Year of the Horse)

Conclusion

The Lunar New Year is a culturally significant holiday celebrated across Asia and other parts of the world. With it taking place between late January and mid-February, its extensive celebrations can disrupt local businesses, with many closing for several days to a week, impacting regular business activities.

Additionally, ecommerce sellers in countries that do not widely observe the Lunar New Year may experience delivery delays in shipments to countries observing the Lunar New Year due to government office closures and limited courier services during this period.

Resources: To delve deeper into the festivities and customs of the Lunar New Year, explore the Smithsonian Institution’s website. For a comprehensive understanding of e-commerce terminology, visit our glossary page.

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