Happy New Year to everyone! If you aren’t familiar with the language written above it reads “3,2,1. Happy New Year!’’ Lunar Year is a celebration of the arrival of Spring and the beginning of a New Year on the lunisolar calendar.
February 10th, 2024 is the start of the New Year in Chinese culture, with various traditions taking place in honor of the Year of the Dragon. In traditional Chinese culture, Chinese people get 8 days off, parades, fireworks, dumplings and red envelopes will be taking place to partake in this year's festivities. To honor the festivities within the College of Business and Economics, which has a makeup of 14% Asian demographic, we orchestrated a celebration with students, faculty and staff sharing their traditions, facts and takeaways they want people who aren’t familiar with the Chinese New Year celebration.
Fact One: The Lunar New Year’s Eve reunion dinner is the highlight that kicks off the holiday, a feast with a spread of symbolic dishes, such as a whole fish representing abundance, that brings good luck and fortune.
Professor Sengwon Choi- Management Professor
- What does Lunar Year mean to you?
Lunar New Year is one of the biggest holidays in Korea. It is an occasion where close families and extended families get together to enjoy each other’s presence and wish the best to everyone for the year ahead - How do you celebrate?
I am planning on cooking some food and share with others if possible - For people who are not familiar with lunar year what are 3 things you'd like for them to take away?
Lunar New Year is widely celebrated in many Asian/East Asian countries, but how it is celebrated may look very different from culture to culture.
In Korea, the holiday is celebrated in a very family/community and relationship-oriented manner. - What goals are you setting for yourself this year?
To laugh more, to be kinder and more generous to people, and to visit the family and loved ones more - What traditions do you and your family take part in?
Food has been a big part of the Lunar New Year celebration growing up. We especially make and eat “ddeokguk (rice cake soup)” to celebrate the new year. We used to say that “eating one bowl of ddeokguk signifies getting a year older”.
We also had a tradition where younger ones in the family would visit and vow to elders in the family (this tradition is called “sebae”), and elders would give money to younger ones in return, with blessings for them for the new year - What does "The Year of the Dragon" symbolize/represent to you?
Honestly, I have not thought much about the meaning behind this year being “The Year of Blue Dragon”, though the image of a blue dragon does give me a feeling of unending energy!
Student Crystal Li Accounting
- What does Lunar Year mean to you?
Lunar New Year is extremely special as it's the biggest holiday in Korea. In my household, it was also the time my grandparents would come from China. My grandma and I would make Chinese Sesame Seed Balls. The round shape and golden colors stand for good luck, growing while symbolizing prosperity. - How do you celebrate?
We usually eat noodles (for longevity), dumplings and steamed fish. Steamed fish stands for surplus and wealth. - For people who are not familiar with lunar year what are 3 things you’d like for them to take away?
Anyone is welcome to participate, there are 12 animals in the zodiac (calendar year) and the red envelopes have more meaning than just money in them, they're symbolic. - What goals are you setting for yourself this year?
Find my purpose - What does the year of the dragon mean to you?
It’s my birth year
Professor Fang Fang- Management Professor
- What does Lunar Year mean to you?
It is a time for families to get together, even though we live on different sides of the world.
Lunar Year is the beginning of a new year, meaning new start and hope. - How do you celebrate?
We usually eat dumplings; a traditional food Chinese people eat in Lunar New Year. - For people who are not familiar with lunar year what are 3 things you'd like for them to take away?
There are 12 animals (Chinese zodiac) in a cycle to represent year.
Many Asian countries celebrate lunar year but may have different animal zodiac.
If this year’s zodiac is the same as that of someone’s birth year, we call it “Benming” year, and the person wears red in tradition to keep good luck. - What goals are you setting for yourself this year?
Find more passion in life - What traditions do you and your family take part in?
We usually eat dumplings and used to set off fireworks when it was available, meaning good luck. - What does "The Year of the Dragon" symbolize/represent to you?
My birth year is the Year of the Dragon.
Fact Two: Celebration continues by Praying.
Adele Li- Graphic Designer and Web Administrator
- What does Lunar Year mean to you?
It is tradition for the Chinese, and it is also celebrated by lots of Asian country including Singapore, Karen, Japan etc. Through centuries of China’s agrarian tradition, this was the one period when farmers could rest from their work in the fields. Family members from near and far would travel to be with loved ones in time to usher out the old year and welcome in the new, with great celebratory flourish. It is the most important and most festive holiday of the year. It works like Thanksgiving holiday in China. - How do you celebrate?
We will have a family gathering and have the biggest meal of the year or eat out. - For people who are not familiar with lunar year what are 3 things you'd like for them to take away?
A. lunar calendar is also referred to as agricultural calendar, it indicates when to plowing the fields, sowing seed, nurturing the crops, and gathering the harvest. It is able to keep track of the optimal times for performing agricultural tasks.
B. We eat dumpling during Lunar year celebration. Because the dumplings themselves look like money pouches and they represent fortune and prosperity in the coming year.
C. The 15th day of the first lunar month is known as the “Lantern Festival.” The Lantern Festival signals the end of the New Year festival period. - What goals are you setting for yourself this year?
Exercise, keep weight and keep good health. - What traditions do you and your family take part in?
Not too much. There are 7 to 8 days in China to celebrate. Since we do not have holidays here, we keep the minimum activities, shopping and enjoy the food. - What does "The Year of the Dragon" symbolize/represent to you?
There are 12 zodiac animals in Chinese Lunar New Year, Dragon is just one of them, nothing special.
David Chang- ITC
- How do you celebrate?
We do celebrate only with fancy foods and the exchange of red envelopes for the singles in the family. That is a tradition, but if you are too old and have a nice job, they might not get it. Time to eat those sticky rice things, and the Taiwanese red bean goodies/sweets (served hot). - What does Lunar Year mean to you?
Prosperity and health. - For people who are not familiar with lunar year what are 3 things you'd like for them to take away?
To watch the parades a lot of good information is spread and discussed through them. Try new foods (rice sticky cakes are delicious) and know that every Asian culture celebrates Lunar year differently. - What goals are you setting for yourself this year?
Keep healthy and prosper. Two basic things like the western tradition new years. This year, the zodiac sign is DRAGON, the best zodiac signs out of the 12 listed. - What traditions do you and your family take part in?
Exchange of Chinese red envelopes. Traditional foods.
Fact Three: Greetings go beyond “Happy New Year”. Greetings are in the form of: May wealth come pouring in; May you have abundance; Good luck and fortune and may everything go as you wish.
We at the College of Business and Economics would like to wish you a Happy Lunar Year. We wish you a lucky and prosperous year ahead!