Lunar New Year 2024: Traditions, Zodiac, and Essential Chinese Vocabulary
The lunar year 2024 joyously welcomes the Year of the Dragon – characterized by strength, prosperity, and good fortune. In Chinese culture, every word, dish, decoration has special significance. This Spring Festival 春节（chūn jié）, welcome your own good fortune by learning the traditions, customs, and most importantly – the essential Chinese vocabulary – to capture the full spirit of this joyful holiday.
When is Lunar New Year 2024?
Lunar New Year 2024 falls on Saturday, February 10th. As a lunar calendar based holiday, the date of Lunar New Year changes every year and falls sometime between late January to mid February. More specifically, it begins on the second new moon following the winter solstice, which is the first day of the New Year in the lunisolar calendar. In 2024, this new moon occurs on February 10th.
The holiday is celebrated by billions of people around the world and marks the arrival of spring as well as the start of a new lunar year. It kicks off the Year of the Dragon in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. Festivities last for over two weeks, culminating in the Lantern Festival on the 15th day which will fall on February 24th in 2024.
Lunar Calendar and Zodiac Signs
The date of Lunar New Year is based on the lunisolar calendar, which tracks the phases of the moon and sun. Each Lunar New Year is associated with one of the 12 zodiac animal signs – rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
The zodiac cycle repeats every 12 years, with Lunar New Year 2024 being the Year of the Dragon. The dragon is the only mythical creature in the zodiac and is seen as very auspicious. People analyze fortunes and personalities for each zodiac year, with those born under dragons sign seen as lucky, ambitious and charismatic. Here is the upcoming series of zodiac years starting from 2023:
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Year
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Zodiac
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2023
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Rabbit
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2024
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Dragon
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2025
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Snake
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2026
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Horse
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2027
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Goat
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2028
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Monkey
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2029
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Rooster
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2030
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Dog
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Lunar New Year History and Traditions
Lunar New Year has been celebrated for over 4,000 years, dating back to China’s agricultural society. The holiday marks the start of a new lunisolar calendar year and the arrival of spring. Like many ancient festivals, there are myths, legends, and traditions that explain the rich cultural celebrations central to this holiday.
Story Behind the Monster Nian
One famous Lunar New Year legend involves the mythological monster Nian. As the story goes, Nian emerged from under the sea annually on Lunar New Year’s Eve to attack villagers and destroy livestock. To protect themselves, villagers learned they could scare Nian away using loud noises and bright lights. This is the folk tale behind why lighting firecrackers, fireworks and red lanterns became and remains an integral part of welcoming the Lunar New Year.
Red Colors and Lanterns
The use of the color red and lanterns during Lunar New Year stems from the legend of Monster Nian 年 （nián）. Red paper cuttings, banners, and lanterns adorn houses and streets. Bright lantern displays at temples and homes guide Nian away and also symbolize lighting the way for spring and good fortune in the new year. People celebrate by lighting candles, hosting parades of lanterns and performing dragon and lion dances wielding red pompoms amongst showers of red firecracker confetti. Red is considered lucky and wards off evil in Chinese culture. Giving monetary gifts in red envelopes also symbolizes wishes for prosperity.
Lunar New Year Celebrations Worldwide
As one of the most prominent Asian holidays, Lunar New Year is celebrated by over 1.5 billion people globally. Festivities vary across different countries and cultures, ushering in the new year with beloved food, performances, gifts and family reunions.
Festivities in China
In China, epicenters of celebration include Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Public spaces explode with colorful displays and crowds enjoying dragon dances, beating drums, fireworks shows and temple visits. Homes are decorated with paper lanterns and families host elaborate reunion dinners on New Year’s Eve with dishes holding auspicious meanings like fish, rice cakes, and dumplings. Giving monetary gifts in lucky red envelopes is also a beloved tradition.
Events in Southeast Asia
Lunar New Year is celebrated across Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Signature events include the Water Puppet Theater performances in Hanoi, floral festivities welcoming spring in Singapore, lion dance parades in Indonesia, and open house celebrations with delicious seasonal delicacies throughout the region.
Celebrations in Asian American Communities
Major cities across the United States host crowded Lunar New Year events and parades attended by the large Asian American population. Destinations like San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City Chinatowns draw hundreds of thousands to mark the holiday with cultural performances, cuisines and firecrackers. Even small communities come together in solidarity, visible through the paper lanterns gracing restaurants and homes.
How to Celebrate Chinese New Year?
Chinese New Year is best celebrated by infusing meaning into the food, decorations and activities. Dishes like fish, spring rolls, dumplings symbolize prosperity and luck. Hanging red paper lanterns and banners printed with auspicious phrases welcomes good fortune.
Exchanging red envelopes containing money to children and unmarried friends spreads positive wishes. Attending cultural performances, parades and temple visits connects you to the rich traditions. Decorating your home by doing activities like hanging a Willow branch for good luck or planting flowers symbolizing wealth allows you to participate.
Most importantly, gather for reunion dinners with family, stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve, wear red attire and wish those you encounter well with sayings like 恭喜发财 “Gong xi fa cai” (Wishing you prosperity) as you embrace the celebratory spirit of the festival. Infuse symbols of luck, family bonds, seasonal renewal and positivity into your own Lunar New Year.
For more information, please read our post: Chinese New Year 2024.
Lunar New Year 2024 Vocabulary
First day of the Lunar New Year 大年（dà nián）/正月初一（zhēng yuè chū yī）
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放鞭炮
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light firecrackers
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fàng biān pào
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穿新衣
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Wear new clothes
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chuān xīn yī
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拜年
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Pay a new year visit
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bài nián
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第一顿吃素
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The first meal should be vegan
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dì yī dùn chī sù
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Second day of the Lunar New Year 正月初二（zhēng yuè chū èr）
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回娘家
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Visit birth parents
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huí niáng jiā
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吃面
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Eating noodles
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chī miàn
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吃开年饭
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Having a new year’s meal
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chī kāi nián fàn
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祭财神
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Offer sacrifices to the God of Wealth
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jì cái shén
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Third day of the Lunar New Year 正月初三（zhēng yuè chū sān）
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赤狗日
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Day of the red dog (a day to stay home)
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chì gǒu rì
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安睡迟起
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Sleep well and wake up late (relax and rest on the third day)
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ān shuì chí qǐ
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Fourth day of the Lunar New Year 正月初四（zhēng yuè chū sì）
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扔穷
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Throw away poverty
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rēng qióng
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迎灶神
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Welcome the kitchen god
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yíng zào shén
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Fifth day of the Lunar New Year 正月初五（zhēng yuè chū wǔ）
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迎财神
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Welcome the god of wealth
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yíng cái shén
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开市
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Open business
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kāi shì
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Sixth day of the Lunar New Year 正月初六（zhēng yuè chū liù）
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外出游玩
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Go for an outing
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wài chū yóu wán
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走亲访友
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visit relatives and friends
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zǒu qīn fǎng yǒu
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