Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year is the celebration of the beginning of the new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is celebrated by Chinese communities and other Eastern Asian communities. The holiday follows the phase of the moon and follows between January 21st to February 20th. This year, the Lunar New Year is celebrated on Wednesday, January 29th.

There are many stories about the Lunar New Year, deriving mostly from Chinese origins. However, there are two main tales that cover the holiday’s early beginnings. The first one is about a monster, Nian, who attacked Chinese villages at the beginning of each year. The monster was afraid of bright lights, loud noises, and the color red, which became a symbol of luck. The villagers used this knowledge to scare him away and every year they decorate with red, lighting fireworks and firecrackers.

The second story is about the Chinese zodiac, featuring twelve animals that represent the lunar calendar. The legend says that the Jade Emperor created a race and the first twelve animals to cross the finish line would be on the calendar in the order that they won. The rat crossed the line first, after hiding on the back of the ox and jumping off towards the end. After the ox crossed,  so did the tiger, the rabbit, and the dragon. Some stories say the snake hid on the horse’s leg and that’s how it crossed first. The sheep, the monkey, and the rooster were next, helping each other cross the river. The dog was second to last, as it stopped to play, and finally, the pig crossed the finish line. Every year, the animal changes, and every twelve years the rotation restarts, beginning with the rat and ending with the pig. This year is the year of the snake, the sixth animal in the rotation.

At WA, the affinity group APAA (Asian American Pacific Coast Islander) and the GSU (Global Student Union) celebrate the new year by hosting a Lunar Lunch with traditional Asian foods. This year, the event was held on the second floor of Walker on Tuesday, January 28th. There was lots of food, games, dumpling making, and other fun activities to celebrate the entrance of the new year. On Wednesday, January 29th, a group of students took a trip to Chinatown in Boston, where they spent their time walking around, shopping, and eating traditional foods.

新年快乐! Happy New Year!

Photos from the Lunar Lunch 

Lunar New Year Trip to Chinatown in Boston