What Is the Lunar New Year?

Photo: Angela Roma/Pexels, CC BY-SA

The Lunar New Year, also called Spring Festival, marks the beginning of the new year based on the lunar calendar. This celebration is observed across East and Southeast Asia, with each culture bringing its own unique customs, foods, and traditions while sharing common themes of family reunion, renewal, and hope for prosperity.

Important Note: While many people call this celebration "Chinese New Year," this term doesn't capture the full picture. Millions of people in Korea, Vietnam, and other Asian countries celebrate their own distinct versions of this holiday. Using "Lunar New Year" or "Spring Festival" is more inclusive and respectful of all the cultures that observe this important time.

Three Cultural Traditions, One Celebration

Culture	Name	Pronunciation	Literal Meaning
Chinese	春节 (Chūn Jié) or Spring Festival	choon jee-eh	"Spring Festival" , celebrating the arrival of spring
Korean	설날 (Seollal)	sul-lahl	"The year of age day" , marking a new year of life
Vietnamese	Tết Nguyên Đán	tet noo-yen dahn	"First morning of the first day" , the beginning of a new period

When Is It Celebrated?

The Lunar New Year falls on different dates each year because it follows the lunar calendar rather than the solar calendar we use daily. It typically occurs between late January and mid-February, on the second new moon after the winter solstice.

Shared Themes Across Cultures

Why Learning About Multiple Traditions Matters

When we teach about Lunar New Year, it's essential to recognize that this is not one monolithic celebration. By exploring Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese traditions side by side, students learn to:

• Appreciate both similarities and differences across cultures
• Understand that holidays evolve within specific cultural contexts
• Recognize the diversity within Asian and Asian-American communities
• Avoid conflating different cultures into a single "Asian" experience
• Value authentic representation from community members themselves

Core Principles for Respectful Teaching

Addressing Common Misconceptions

Respecting Students' Diverse Experiences

• Not all students from Asian backgrounds celebrate Lunar New Year: Some families don't observe it due to religion, regional origin, or personal choice.
• Celebration styles vary widely: Some families maintain traditional practices, while others create new hybrid traditions. Diaspora families may celebrate differently than relatives in their countries of origin.
• Economic factors matter: Traditional celebrations can be expensive. Not all families can afford travel, gifts, or elaborate feasts.
• Generational differences exist: Younger generations may have different relationships to these traditions than their elders.

Working with Families

The best way to teach about Lunar New Year is to partner with families from these communities. Here's how:

Overview

Spring Festival (春节, Chūn Jié) is the most important traditional holiday in Chinese culture. Known internationally as Chinese New Year, it marks the beginning of spring and a new year on the lunar calendar. The celebration emphasizes family reunion, renewal, and hope for prosperity in the year ahead.

The Zodiac Animals

Chinese culture follows a 12-year cycle where each year is represented by an animal: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal is believed to influence the characteristics of people born in that year and the fortune of the year itself.

Famous people born in the Year of the Tiger (for classroom discussion): Queen Elizabeth II, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lady Gaga

Preparation Before New Year

House Cleaning (扫尘 sǎo chén)

Families thoroughly clean their homes to sweep away bad luck and make room for good fortune. However, sweeping on New Year's Day itself is taboo , you might sweep away the good luck!

Shopping and Decorating

• Red decorations everywhere: Red paper-cuts (窗花) on windows, spring couplets (春联) on doors
• Door god posters: Traditional guardians to protect the home
• New red clothing: Red symbolizes luck, joy, and happiness
• Gifts for relatives: Preparing presents shows respect and strengthens relationships

New Year's Eve (除夕 Chúxī)

The most important moment of the celebration. Families gather for a reunion dinner (年夜饭) , often the most significant meal of the year. All family members make an effort to be together, no matter how far they must travel.

The Reunion Dinner

Every dish has symbolic meaning:

• Fish (鱼 yú): Sounds like "surplus" (余 yú), symbolizing abundance. Tradition says to leave some fish uneaten to ensure prosperity carries into the new year
• Dumplings (饺子 jiǎozi): Shaped like gold ingots, representing wealth. Northern Chinese families often eat these at midnight
• Spring rolls: Their golden color resembles gold bars
• Sticky rice cake (年糕 niángāo): Sounds like "higher year," meaning promotion and advancement
• Oranges and tangerines (桔 jú): Sound like "luck" (吉 jí)
• Longevity noodles: Long uncut noodles symbolize long life

Evening Activities

• Watching Spring Festival Gala on TV: A massive variety show that hundreds of millions watch together
• Playing games: Mahjong, cards, board games
• Staying up late: "Guarding the year" (守岁) to welcome the new year
• Fireworks at midnight: To scare away evil spirits and bad luck

New Year's Day and Beyond

Red Envelopes (红包 hóngbāo)

Adults give children red envelopes filled with money, symbolizing that bad luck is driven away and good fortune is passed on. The red color and the act of giving both carry blessings.

Visiting Relatives and Friends

The first days of the new year are spent visiting family and friends, exchanging blessings and gifts. Common greetings include:

• 新年快乐 (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè) , "Happy New Year!"
• 恭喜发财 (Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái) , "Wishing you prosperity!"

The Lantern Festival (元宵节)

The 15th and final day features beautiful lantern displays, lion and dragon dances, and eating sweet rice balls (汤圆 tāngyuán) that symbolize family togetherness.

Modern Adaptations

• Digital red envelopes: Sent via WeChat and other apps
• Restaurant dinners: Many urban families now eat reunion dinner at restaurants
• Recorded fireworks: In cities with bans, recordings play through speakers
• Virtual gatherings: Video calls connect families across distances

In the Chinese Diaspora

Chinese communities worldwide maintain these traditions, with celebrations in Chinatowns featuring parades with lion and dragon dances, cultural performances, and street festivals. Cities like San Francisco, New York, London, and Sydney host major public celebrations.

For Chinese-American families, Spring Festival becomes a way to maintain cultural identity and pass traditions to children growing up in different cultural contexts. Some families blend Chinese and Western practices, creating unique hybrid celebrations.

A Unique Urban Celebration

Hong Kong's Chinese New Year celebration blends traditional Chinese customs with distinctive local traditions and cosmopolitan energy. As a major international city with deep cultural roots, Hong Kong creates a celebration that's both authentically Chinese and uniquely its own.

The Flower Markets: 行花市 (Hang Fa Shi)

Perhaps Hong Kong's most beloved and distinctive New Year tradition is "hang fa shi" (行花市) , literally "walking the flower market." For about a week leading up to New Year's Day, parks and public spaces across Hong Kong transform into bustling outdoor bazaars filled with auspicious plants, decorations, food, and festive energy.

Victoria Park Flower Market

The largest and most famous is at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, featuring over 400 stalls. This market becomes a sensory explosion:

• "Wet goods" stalls: Auspicious flowers and plants
• "Dry goods" stalls: Decorations, zodiac-themed items, red banners (揮春 fai chun)
• Food stalls: Traditional snacks, street foods like curry fish balls, stinky tofu
• Entertainment: Lion dances, traditional performances, free calligraphy

Auspicious Plants and Their Meanings

Plant	Chinese Name	Symbolism
Peach Blossoms	桃花 (tóu fā)	Love, growth, romance (circle the tree 3 times for good luck in love!)
Kumquat Trees	金桔 (gām gwāt)	Gold and luck , the name sounds like "gold" and "good fortune"
Narcissus	水仙 (séuì sīn)	Good fortune and purity
Orchids	蘭花 (làahn fā)	Elegance, prosperity, refinement
Pussy Willows	銀柳 (ngàhn láuh)	Prosperity , sounds like "silver" in Cantonese
Lucky Bamboo	富貴竹 (fu gwai juk)	Wealth and honor

The Custom of Buying Last Minute

A uniquely Hong Kong tradition: visiting the flower markets throughout the final night before New Year's Day. The atmosphere builds as the evening progresses, with massive crowds filling the markets well into the early morning hours (2am, 3am, even later!). Vendors are eager to sell off their remaining stock, offering steep discounts as the night goes on. Teenagers and young adults especially love this all-night tradition , it's become a social event, a chance to be out with friends celebrating as the new year arrives.

The Chinese New Year Night Parade

Held on the evening of New Year's Day (Day 1), this spectacular parade transforms Tsim Sha Tsui into a moving festival of color, music, and performance. An annual tradition since 1996, it's one of Hong Kong's most anticipated events.

What to Expect

• Route: Starting at Hong Kong Cultural Centre, winding through Canton Road, Haiphong Road, and Nathan Road
• Duration: Pre-parade entertainment from 6pm, parade from 8pm-10:30pm
• Features: Over 30 elaborate floats, traditional Chinese lion and dragon dancers, international performance troupes, acrobats, marching bands
• Themes: Each year has a theme , for 2026 (Year of the Horse): "Best Fortune. World Party"
• Participants: Major Hong Kong companies (Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park), international guest performers

Viewing: Free viewing along the parade route, or purchase spectator stand tickets (sell out quickly!). Streets close early as crowds gather for the best viewing spots.

Victoria Harbour Fireworks

On the second day of Chinese New Year, Victoria Harbour blazes with a spectacular fireworks display , one of the world's most stunning waterfront shows. The pyrotechnics are choreographed to music, with lights dancing on the surrounding skyscrapers, creating an unforgettable visual experience.

Best viewing spots: Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, Victoria Park, Avenue of Stars, or from a harbour cruise.

Temple Visits and Wishes

Like other Chinese communities, Hongkongers visit temples to pray for fortune and blessings:

Year of the Horse Raceday

A distinctly Hong Kong tradition: on the third day of Chinese New Year, horse racing at Sha Tin Racecourse combines thrilling races with festive entertainment, lion dances, and live music. Racing is deeply popular in Hong Kong, and this event is one of the year's biggest racing days, believed to bring good luck for the year ahead.

Superstitions: Wearing red enhances luck. If you're winning, don't wash your hands , you might wash away your good fortune!

Staying Up All Night on New Year's Eve

While the traditional practice of "shousui" (守歲 , keeping watch over the year) involves staying up all night, in Hong Kong this has evolved into a distinctive social tradition, especially among teenagers and young adults:

• Flower market marathon: Groups of friends visit multiple flower markets across the city throughout the night
• All-night crowds: The markets remain packed with people well into the early morning hours (2am, 3am, and beyond)
• Bargain hunting: Vendors dramatically discount flowers and plants as the night progresses
• Street food crawl: Sampling snacks and treats at different markets
• Social celebration: Being out with friends through the night as the new year arrives, soaking in the festive energy
• A unique vibe: The special atmosphere of Hong Kong at night during this celebration

For many Hong Kong teens, this all-night celebration has become a rite of passage , a chance to stay out late, be part of the incredible energy, and start the new year surrounded by friends and festivity.

Hong Kong Foods and Customs

Poon Choi (盆菜)

A traditional multi-layered feast in a large basin, originating from the walled villages of the New Territories. This communal dish has become the go-to for many Hong Kong families during New Year. Ingredients are layered based on their cooking time and value, with the most prized items on top.

Lai See (利是) , Red Packets

In Hong Kong, married people give red packets to unmarried people (not just children!). This includes giving them to service workers like security guards, office cleaners, and building staff as a gesture of goodwill. The seventh day is considered "everyone's birthday," and some people wait until the fifteenth day (Lantern Festival) to open their red packets, believing it accumulates wealth.

Superstitions and Customs

• Don't clean or sweep during the first three days , you'll sweep away good fortune
• Don't cut your hair on the first day
• Wear red for luck
• Avoid discussing bad news or using words associated with death or misfortune
• Accept red packets and food offerings from elders graciously

The Hong Kong Blend

What makes Hong Kong's celebration unique is how it weaves together:

• Cantonese traditions: Foods, language, customs from southern China
• International city energy: Performers from around the world, global brands participating
• Dense urban setting: Celebrations adapted to parks, waterfronts, and busy streets
• Modern innovations: Technology, social media coordination, contemporary entertainment

For Hong Kong families , whether born there, migrants from mainland China, or part of the global diaspora , these celebrations maintain cultural identity while embracing Hong Kong's unique character as an international metropolis.

Overview

Seollal (설날) is one of the most important traditional Korean holidays, marking the first day of the Korean lunar calendar. Unlike the solar New Year on January 1st (신정, Sinjeong), which feels like a regular day off, Seollal is a deeply meaningful family holiday centered on honoring ancestors and strengthening family bonds.

Preparation: The Journey Home

Seollal creates one of the year's largest mass migrations in Korea, as people travel from cities back to their hometowns (고향, gohyang). This period, called "Seol traffic," can turn a 2-hour drive into 8 hours. Train and bus tickets sell out weeks in advance, and traveling during this time can be expensive and exhausting , but family reunion is worth the effort.

Pre-Seollal Preparations

• Deep cleaning: Wiping away bad luck and welcoming good fortune
• Shopping for ingredients: Markets bustle with activity; food prices often increase due to demand
• New hanbok: Some families have new traditional Korean clothing (한복) made for the occasion
• Gift purchasing: Common gifts include ginseng, honey, health products, fruit sets, and department store gift cards

Seollal Morning: Charye (차례)

The day begins with charye (차례), a ceremonial rite to honor ancestors. This is a distinctly Korean practice that sets Seollal apart from other Lunar New Year celebrations.

The Ritual

• Families set up a low table with meticulously arranged dishes
• Specific foods are placed in specific positions following traditional rules
• Family members, dressed in hanbok or neat clothing, bow deeply together
• The ritual expresses gratitude to ancestors for guidance and protection
• After the ceremony, the family shares the food together

Note: Christian families often skip ancestral rites but still gather for family meals and celebrations.

The Most Important Dish: Tteokguk (떡국)

Tteokguk, or rice cake soup, is THE essential Seollal food. Eating a bowl of tteokguk symbolizes gaining one year of age , Koreans traditionally count their age by how many Seollals they've experienced, not birthdays alone.

Symbolism in Every Element

• White rice cakes: Represent purity and a clean, fresh start
• Oval shape: Resembles yeopjeon (엽전), traditional Korean coins, symbolizing prosperity
• Clear broth: Represents starting the year with a clean mind and body
• Long rice cake ropes (before slicing): Signify "expansion of good fortune"

Tteokguk Variations

• Some regions add mandu (만두, dumplings), creating tteokmanduguk
• Broth can be made from beef, anchovies, or bone broth
• Toppings include sliced egg, dried seaweed (gim), green onions, and beef

Other Traditional Foods

Jeon (전) , Savory Pancakes

Crispy, fried pancakes with various fillings:

• Yukjeon (육전) , beef
• Guljeon (굴전) , oysters
• Kimchijeon (김치전) , kimchi
• Pajeon (파전) , green onion

Served with a spicy soy-vinegar dipping sauce

Other Dishes

• Japchae (잡채): Glass noodles with vegetables and meat
• Bulgogi (불고기): Sweet and savory marinated beef
• Galbi jjim (갈비찜): Braised short ribs in rich sauce
• Various namul (나물): Seasoned vegetable side dishes (note: no garlic or green onions for ancestral offerings, as these are believed to chase away spirits)
• Yaksik (약식): Sweet rice with chestnuts, jujubes, and pine nuts
• Sikhye (식혜) and Sujeonggwa (수정과): Traditional sweet beverages

Sebae (세배): The New Year's Bow

After the morning meal, younger family members perform sebae (세배) , a deep, formal bow to their elders.

How It Works

• Children and younger adults bow deeply, placing their hands together
• They say "새해 복 많이 받으세요!" (Happy New Year / Receive much luck!)
• Elders offer blessings, advice, and wishes for the new year
• Children receive sebaetdon (세뱃돈) , New Year's money in envelopes

Kids' perspective: Children often compete over who received the most sebaetdon! There's a running joke that Korean moms used to "manage" (keep) this money, and when adults ask for it back years later, mothers claim it's gone.

Traditional Games and Activities

• Yutnori (윷놀이): A board game played with wooden sticks (featured in "Squid Game")
• Go-stop: A card game
• Jegichagi: Kicking a paper shuttlecock
• Yeonnaligi: Kite flying
• Neolttwigi: Seesaw jumping

Modern Adaptations

• Simplified ancestral rites: Some families conduct shorter ceremonies with fewer dishes
• Casual clothing: Many younger people wear modern clothes instead of hanbok
• Purchased foods: Busy families buy pre-made tteokguk and other dishes
• Alternative celebrations: Some families vacation during Seollal instead of traveling home
• Cost concerns: Gift-giving pressure has increased, especially with the 50,000 won bill in circulation

In Korean-American Communities

For Korean-Americans, Seollal serves as an important connection to heritage. Some families maintain traditional practices like charye and wearing hanbok, while others create adapted celebrations that blend Korean and American elements. Korean cultural centers often host public Seollal events with performances, traditional games, and food tastings.

The holiday takes on additional meaning in diaspora , it becomes not just a New Year celebration, but a deliberate act of cultural preservation and transmission to children growing up between two cultures.

Overview

Tết Nguyên Đán (often shortened to Tết) is the most significant festival in Vietnamese culture. The name means "first morning of the first day," marking the beginning of a new lunar period. In Vietnamese, "to celebrate Tết" is expressed as "ăn Tết" , literally "to eat Tết" , highlighting how central food is to this celebration.

Preparation: Welcoming Ancestors and Guests

The weeks before Tết are filled with preparation, as families ready themselves to welcome both ancestor spirits and living guests into spotlessly clean, beautifully decorated homes.

Flower Markets

Homes are adorned with symbolic flowering plants:

• Northern Vietnam: Peach blossoms (Hoa Đào) , pink/red blooms symbolizing spring and renewal
• Southern Vietnam: Yellow apricot blossoms (Hoa Mai) , golden blooms representing prosperity
• Kumquat trees: Mini orange trees symbolizing wealth and good fortune

Preparing Traditional Foods

Making Tết foods, especially bánh chưng or bánh tét, is a multi-day family affair. The entire family gathers to prepare these labor-intensive dishes, transforming the work into quality time together.

The Centerpiece: Bánh Chưng and Bánh Tét

These sticky rice cakes are THE essential Tết food, so important they're mentioned in the traditional Tết saying: "Cây nêu, tràng pháo, bánh chưng xanh" (Nêu tree, firecrackers, green bánh chưng).

The Legend of Lang Liêu

According to a 14th-century legend, Prince Lang Liêu created these cakes for his father, the Hùng King, who was searching for a successor. While his brothers brought exotic foods from far away, Lang Liêu made simple cakes from rice, mung beans, and pork , ingredients from the land itself.

He created bánh chưng (square, symbolizing the Earth) and bánh giầy (round, symbolizing the Sky). The king found these not only delicious but also a beautiful representation of respect for ancestors and connection to the land. Lang Liêu became king, and these cakes became traditional Tết foods.

Regional Differences

• Northern Vietnam: Bánh chưng (square cakes) , more common, traditional
• Southern & Central Vietnam: Bánh tét (cylindrical cakes) , preferred shape
• Ingredients: Glutinous sticky rice, mung beans, pork belly, wrapped in banana or dong leaves
• Cooking time: 8-12 hours of slow boiling over wood fires

The Family Tradition

Making these cakes brings families together around a fire, often overnight. As they tend the boiling pots, family members tell stories, share memories, and strengthen bonds. The cakes aren't just food , they're a vessel for family connection and cultural transmission.

Cultural significance: The green color (from leaves), square/round shapes (earth and sky), and ingredients from the land emphasize the Vietnamese connection to nature and ancestors. Giving these cakes as gifts symbolizes passing on luck and wealth.

Modern Adaptations

Today, smaller urban families often buy bánh from specialty makers rather than making them at home. Craft villages like Tranh Khúc have become famous for their bánh chưng production. However, many families still gather to make them, valuing the tradition over convenience.

Other Essential Tết Foods

Xôi Gấc (Red Sticky Rice)

• Made with gấc fruit, giving it a vibrant red color
• Red wards off evil spirits and represents happiness and wealth
• Slightly sweet taste, served with other dishes

Nem Rán / Chả Giò (Fried Spring Rolls)

• Crispy rolls filled with pork, shrimp, vegetables, glass noodles
• Golden color symbolizes good luck and prosperity
• Served with fresh herbs, lettuce leaves, and fish sauce

Thịt Kho Tàu (Braised Pork with Eggs)

• Pork belly braised in coconut water with hard-boiled eggs
• Rich, savory-sweet flavor
• Keeps well, can be reheated throughout Tết

Other Traditional Dishes

• Giò lụa and Giò xào: Vietnamese pork sausages
• Nem chua: Fermented pork , can be eaten raw, grilled, or fried
• Dưa hành: Pickled spring onions
• Mứt Tết: Candied fruits and seeds

The Five-Fruit Tray (Mâm Ngũ Quả)

A decorative tray with five types of fruit displayed on the family altar, symbolizing respect for ancestors and wishes for the new year. The fruits vary by region but often include:

• Watermelon (green outside, red inside , luck and prosperity)
• Dragon fruit, coconut, papaya, mango, bananas
• The colors and arrangement are carefully considered for symbolic meaning

Tết Traditions

The First Three Days

These days set the foundation for the entire year. Families focus on joy, avoiding arguments or negative actions.

• Day 1 , Paternal Side: Most formal day. Visit father's family, offer incense to ancestors, give lì xì (red envelopes). The "first footer" (xông đất) , the first person to enter the house , is believed to determine the family's luck
• Day 2 , Maternal Side: Visit mother's family. Atmosphere becomes more relaxed
• Day 3 , Teachers: A Vietnamese proverb says "Father's Tết is the 1st, Mother's Tết is the 2nd, and Teacher's Tết is the 3rd," showing respect for educators

Lì Xì (Lucky Money)

Red envelopes with money given to children, elders, and unmarried adults. The red color and the act of giving both symbolize good luck and blessings for the new year.

Visiting and Greeting

People dress in new clothes (often áo dài for women) and visit extended family, friends, neighbors, and teachers. Common greetings:

• Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! , Happy New Year!
• An khang thịnh vượng! , Peace and prosperity!
• Vạn sự như ý! , May all your wishes come true!

Tết Customs and Beliefs

• First actions matter: What you do on Tết affects the whole year
• Avoid negativity: No arguments, no breaking things, no sweeping (you might sweep away luck)
• Dress well: New clothes symbolize a fresh start
• Settle debts: Pay what you owe before Tết begins
• Be generous: Give to those in need

Modern Tết

• Some families simplify ancestral offerings or skip them entirely
• Urban professionals may have shorter celebrations due to work
• Bánh chưng competitions celebrate and preserve tradition
• Social welfare: Communities donate bánh to families in need
• Tourism: Major cities host Tết festivals and cultural events

In the Vietnamese Diaspora

For Vietnamese communities in the US, Australia, France, and elsewhere, Tết becomes a powerful connection to heritage. Little Saigon in Orange County, California, hosts major celebrations with parades, lion dances, and street festivals.

Vietnamese-American families often blend traditions: maybe bánh chưng from a specialty shop rather than homemade, or gathering on the weekend nearest to Tết rather than taking time off work. Yet the core meanings , family, ancestors, hope for the future , remain strong.

For children of refugees who fled Vietnam after the war, Tết carries additional layers of meaning: remembering the homeland, honoring ancestors' sacrifices, and ensuring the next generation knows where they come from.

Understanding the Zodiac System

Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures all use a zodiac system with a 12-year cycle, where each year is represented by an animal. However, there are some fascinating differences!

Year Order	Chinese (鼠牛虎兔龙蛇马羊猴鸡狗猪)	Korean (쥐소호랑이토끼용뱀말양원숭이닭개돼지)	Vietnamese
1	Rat	Rat (쥐)	Rat
2	Ox	Ox (소)	Water Buffalo
3	Tiger	Tiger (호랑이)	Tiger
4	Rabbit	Rabbit (토끼)	Cat
5	Dragon	Dragon (용)	Dragon
6	Snake	Snake (뱀)	Snake
7	Horse	Horse (말)	Horse
8	Goat/Sheep	Sheep (양)	Goat
9	Monkey	Monkey (원숭이)	Monkey
10	Rooster	Rooster (닭)	Rooster
11	Dog	Dog (개)	Dog
12	Pig	Pig (돼지)	Pig

Why the Differences?

Vietnam: Cat Instead of Rabbit

There are several theories about why Vietnam has a cat:

• Linguistic explanation: The Chinese word for rabbit (卯 mǎo) sounds similar to the Vietnamese word for cat (mèo)
• Cultural relevance: Cats were more important in Vietnamese agricultural life (protecting rice stores from rats) than rabbits
• Folk stories: Various legends explain why the cat replaced the rabbit in Vietnamese tradition

Vietnam: Water Buffalo Instead of Ox

The water buffalo is central to Vietnamese rice farming culture. This animal represents:

• Hard work and endurance
• The agricultural foundation of Vietnamese society
• Partnership between humans and nature

Teaching About Zodiac Animals

Important Teaching Notes

• Present the zodiac as a cultural tradition, not a scientific fact
• Some students' families may not believe in or follow zodiac traditions
• Avoid statements like "You ARE a tiger" , instead say "In this system, people born in [year] are associated with the tiger"
• Respect that not all Asian families care about or celebrate zodiac traditions

The Heart of the Celebration

Across Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese traditions, Lunar New Year is fundamentally about family. This isn't just a nice idea , it's so important that hundreds of millions of people undertake difficult, expensive journeys to be with family for this one day of the year.

The Great Migration Home

Why Family Reunion Matters So Much

Confucian Values

All three cultures were influenced by Confucian philosophy, which emphasizes:

• Filial piety (孝): Respect and care for parents and elders
• Family hierarchy: Understanding one's role and responsibilities within the family structure
• Continuity: The family line extends from ancestors through current generations to descendants
• Collective over individual: Personal desires take secondary importance to family needs

Ancestor Veneration

The belief that ancestors watch over and influence their descendants' lives makes Lunar New Year a time when:

• The living and the dead are connected through ritual and remembrance
• Families express gratitude for what ancestors provided
• The past, present, and future are linked in one continuous family story

Intergenerational Activities and Traditions

Elders Teaching the Young

• Food preparation: Grandmothers teaching grandchildren to wrap dumplings, make tteokguk, or wrap bánh chưng
• Ritual practices: Showing children proper bowing techniques, explaining altar arrangements
• Stories and history: Sharing family stories, explaining why traditions matter
• Language preservation: Teaching traditional greetings, songs, and phrases

Youth Showing Respect

• Formal bows (sebae in Korean): Physical embodiment of respect
• Serving elders first: At meals, younger family members wait for elders to eat first
• Listening to advice: Elders offer wisdom and blessings for the new year
• Helping with preparations: Younger generations assist with cleaning, cooking, decorating

Shared Activities

• Playing games together: Mahjong in China, yutnori in Korea, traditional games in Vietnam
• Watching entertainment: Spring Festival Gala, special TV programs
• Visiting relatives: Multiple generations traveling together
• Taking family photos: Documenting the gathering

Modern Challenges

Economic Pressures

• Travel costs during peak season
• Expected gifts for all family members
• Pressure to demonstrate financial success
• Food preparation expenses

Changing Family Structures

• Smaller families mean fewer people to share preparation work
• Nuclear families living far from extended family
• Divorce and blended families complicating traditional hierarchies

Generational Gaps

• Younger generations may not speak ancestral languages fluently
• Different values about gender roles and family expectations
• Technology creating both connection (video calls) and distance (phones at dinner)

Diaspora Experiences

• Families separated by oceans, making reunion impossible
• Children growing up in Western contexts, questioning traditional practices
• Having to take time off work/school for holidays not recognized in their country of residence
• Navigating between heritage culture and adopted culture

Teaching About Family Connections

Connecting to Students' Lives

While not all students celebrate Lunar New Year, they can connect to its themes:

• Most families have special times for gathering (holidays, birthdays, reunions)
• Many students have special relationships with grandparents or elders
• Families of all backgrounds pass down traditions, recipes, and stories
• Everyone understands the feeling of hope for a fresh start

Overview

Teaching about Lunar New Year requires differentiation based on developmental stages. Younger students need concrete, sensory experiences, while older students can handle comparative analysis and abstract concepts.

This Month™ Lunar New Year Crafts & Activities

Our partner site, This Month™, offers several hands-on crafts and interactive games specifically designed for Lunar New Year celebrations. These activities build fine motor skills, math proficiency, cultural understanding, and creativity:

Cross-Curricular Activities

Language Arts

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

Art

Music and Movement

Whole Class Projects

Guiding Principles for Discussions

• Create a safe space where all students feel comfortable sharing
• Validate diverse family experiences
• Avoid "show and tell" that puts students on the spot as cultural representatives
• Frame questions to encourage thinking, not just recall
• Connect to students' own experiences when possible

Grades K-1

• "What colors do you see in these celebrations? Why do you think red is special?"
• "These families eat special foods together. What special foods does your family share?"
• "How do you think children feel when they get a red envelope with money inside?"
• "Why might families want to be together for New Year?"
• "If you could be one of the zodiac animals, which would you choose? Why?"
• "What does 'good luck' mean to you?"
• "How do you help your family get ready for special days?"

Grades 2-3

• "We learned that fish, dumplings, and rice cakes all have special meanings. Why do you think people give foods symbolic meanings?"
• "How are Chinese Spring Festival, Korean Seollal, and Vietnamese Tết the same? How are they different?"
• "Why might families travel for many hours just to eat one meal together?"
• "What does it mean to show respect to older family members? How do different cultures show respect?"
• "If your family moved far away from your relatives, how might you keep your family traditions alive?"
• "Why do you think Vietnam has a cat in their zodiac instead of a rabbit like China and Korea?"
• "What traditions does your family have that came from older generations? Who taught them to you?"
• "How might celebrating Lunar New Year be different if you live in America instead of Asia?"
• "Why do you think it's important to honor ancestors?"
• "What does 'fresh start' mean? Why might people want a fresh start at the new year?"

Grades 4-5

• "How have Lunar New Year traditions changed over hundreds of years? Why do traditions change?"
• "What challenges might families in diaspora communities face when trying to celebrate traditional holidays?"
• "We learned that travel for Lunar New Year is expensive and difficult. Why do people do it anyway?"
• "How might younger generations feel about traditions that are important to their elders? What happens when they disagree?"
• "Why is it problematic to call all Lunar New Year celebrations 'Chinese New Year'?"
• "How do economic factors affect who can celebrate and how elaborate their celebrations can be?"
• "What role does food play in cultural identity and family connection?"
• "How might second-generation immigrants balance respect for their heritage culture with being part of their adopted culture?"
• "Why do you think so many different cultures celebrate the new year with themes of renewal, family, and hope?"
• "What responsibility do we have to represent other cultures accurately and respectfully?"
• "How can we appreciate and learn from other cultures without appropriating them?"

Recommended Books

Picture Books (K-2)

• "Bringing in the New Year" by Grace Lin , Chinese-American family's celebration
• "The Runaway Rice Cake" by Ying Chang Compestine , Korean Seollal story
• "Tết: The New Year" by Phung Nguyen Quang , Vietnamese Tết traditions
• "Ruby's Chinese New Year" by Vickie Lee , Family gathering story

Chapter Books (3-5)

• "The Year of the Rat" by Grace Lin , Chinese-American girl's experiences
• "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin , Fantasy with cultural elements
• "Pie in the Sky" by Rmy Lai , Chinese identity

Videos and Media

• PBS Learning Media: Lunar New Year videos from multiple cultural perspectives
• National Geographic Kids: Cultural celebration videos
• YouTube: Search for authentic family vlogs showing real celebrations (verify appropriateness first)
• Chinese Spring Festival Gala clips: Performance and cultural entertainment

Online Resources

• Asia Society: Educational resources about Asian cultures
• Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center: Cultural resources and lesson plans
• The Conversation: Scholarly articles on cultural celebrations
• Local cultural organizations: Korean Cultural Centers, Chinese American museums, Vietnamese cultural associations

Guest Speakers

The best resource is authentic voices from these communities:

• Contact local cultural organizations to find speakers
• Invite family members who celebrate to share their experiences
• Connect with university international student organizations
• Reach out to local Asian-owned restaurants for cultural consultants

Professional Development

• Attend workshops on teaching about Asian cultures
• Read scholarship on Asian-American experiences
• Follow educators from these communities on social media
• Engage with primary sources from these cultures (literature, films, music)