World: What Is the Lunar New Year?

Source: East-West blog, February 5, 2024

The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival, is a prominent holiday in East and Southeast Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, Korea, and Singapore.

Lunar New Year begins with the new moon closest to the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. While the Lunar New Year is largely a secular holiday, many traditions originated from Buddhism and Taoism. Believers should understand the significance of the Lunar New Year and know how to share the love of Christ with friends who celebrate this holiday.

The holiday also celebrates new beginnings and ushering in good luck for the new year. Before the new year, people will clean their homes to symbolize ridding the house of the previous year’s bad luck and making room for good luck to enter. Families will also gather for a large dinner and serve dishes representing abundance and fortune.

Read the full story and consider ways you might pray for or connect with friends observing this holiday on Saturday, February 10 (and over a period of several weeks).

Millions travel home in “the world’s largest migration,” but read about the Chinese millennials who shun Lunar New Year travel (BBC).

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