Lunar New Year: History, Significance and all you need to know about the Year of the Rabbit

The Year of the Rabbit in 2023 will be celebrated by over a billion people globally since each year is named after one of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs. The Year of the Tiger was celebrated last year.

Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in China, is the most important time of year for family gatherings. South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, and other Asian countries also observe it.

When is the Lunar New Year celebrated?

Each year, the Lunar New Year begins with the second new moon following the winter solstice, hence it begins on a different day every year. It is the start of the lunisolar calendar. According to the University of California Irvine, the Lunar New Year celebrations in 2023 begin on January 22 and will conclude on February 5 with the Lantern Festival.

Lunar New Year: What’s the history?

The origins of the Lunar New Year are still "slightly unknown," according to researchers.

According to UC Irvine, one theory is that it began around 3,500 years ago as animal worship in northern nomadic cultures.

Animals flocked to bid goodbye to a dying Buddha, according to Buddhist legend. According to Chinese tradition, it began as a competition among the animals when the Jade Emperor was selecting palace guards.



"In either version, the ox was meant to be the first to arrive," UC Irvine professor Hu Ying says.

The Vietnamese word for Lunar New Year is Tết , while the Korean word is Seollal. In the United States, it is generally referred to as Chinese New Year.

What is the Rabbit's Year?

The rabbit is one of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs that the Lunar New Year is based on. Last year, it was the Year of the Tiger.

According to Hu Ying, a professor of East Asian studies at UC Irvine, the rabbit represents "longevity, peace, and wealth."
People born in the Year of the Rabbit are creative, extremely clever, patient, and peaceful, according to Nancy Law of the Chinese Zodiac Store in San Francisco's Chinatown, where business owners are preparing for large celebrations.

FAQs:

1. Which country has Lunar New Year?
   China
2. Who celebrates the Lunar New Year?
   China and other Asian countries