Lunar New Year is Almost Here
Journalist Petra L. explains the history of Lunar New Year and where you can go to celebrate in Vermont.
I’m sure you’ve heard of Lunar New Year before, and you may have an idea of what it is, but do you really know the meanings, traditions, and history of the holiday? It’s way more than a parade with giant dragon puppets.
Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean communities. Lunar New Year has a history of about 3,500 years. Its exact beginning date is not recorded. Some people believe that Chinese New Year originated in the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC), when people held sacrificial ceremonies in honor of gods and ancestors at the beginning or the end of each year. The holiday is tied to the lunar-solar Chinese calendar and was originally observed as a time to honor household and heavenly deities and ancestors.
Lunar New year also includes a repeating 12 year cycle, with an animal for each year. In order, the zodiac animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. The Lunar New Year marks the transition from one animal to the next. We are currently in the year of the Tiger, but on January 22, 2023 we will move into the year of the Rabbit. The last time we were in the year of the rabbit was 2011.
In Chinese culture, the rabbit is known to be the luckiest out of all the twelve animals. The symbolic cultural meanings of the rabbit are closely related to its living habits, including vigilance, wittiness, cautiousness, deftness, self-protection, and the moon.
Each year there are huge celebrations all over the world. Unfortunately, there are few large-scale events in Vermont, but there are some smaller celebrations here and there. One is at The Asian Cultural Center of Vermont in Brattleboro. On Sunday the 22nd, they are throwing a local dinner for all ages featuring paper lantern making, Chinese songs, Korean rope tug, Vietnamese dragon dancing, and more. To learn more about this, visit the ACCVT website.
Lunar New Year has a lot of meaning and is a chance for you to start fresh and honor new beginnings. Whether you celebrate this ancient holiday or not, the Cabot Courant wishes you a happy year of the rabbit!
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