Lunar New Year Traditions Explained

Lunar New Year follows the lunar calendar, so its date changes from year to year, usually falling in late January or February. It is celebrated in China, Vietnam, Korea and many diaspora communities, and each place has its own name and customs.

Family reunions

The evening before the new year is often a large family meal. People travel long distances to be home, and the occasion centres on togetherness.

Common customs

• Cleaning the house before the holiday, to sweep away bad luck.
• Giving red envelopes with money, usually from older to younger people.
• Decorating with red paper and lanterns, since red symbolises good fortune.
• Sharing foods whose names or shapes suggest prosperity, such as dumplings or fish.

Regional differences

In Vietnam the festival is called Tet and features sticky rice cakes. In Korea, Seollal includes a rice cake soup and bowing to elders. Details vary between families, so travellers should treat any list as a general guide.