The lunar new year is a Chinese spring festival. It is also celebrated in several counties and other territories in Asia, South Korea, and Singapore. This year the celebrations ended on the fifth of February. Most people generally call it the “Chinese New Year”. They have a family feast that they like to call a reunion dinner full of traditional Lunar New Year foods like fish, dumplings, chicken, chinese cakes, spring rolls, rice balls, and noodles. According to an article on Chinese traditions, the offering of food brings ancestors and other beings in the other world closer to oneself. The food offerings serve as a bonding tool to bring both worlds together. Many people in the Chinese community will put up red decor as a way for good luck in fortune and joy. Adding to that, red lanterns are hung to put on doors to avoid evil spirits and bad luck. They also wear red clothing to represent prosperity. As another way to celebrate they buy new clothes for the Lunar New Year, but not new books. They believe that buying new books for yourself and/or others during the fifteen day celebration brings bad luck for the upcoming year. The Chinese word for “book” is pronounced the same way as “lose.” To wish someone a happy and prosperous new year in Mandarin Chinese you would say, “Gong xi fa chai” which means, “Wishing you prosperity and wealth.” The 15th day of the celebration is known as the “Lantern Festival”, or “YuanShao”. Lanterns were used on this night to help see the gods by torch light. I think that all of these traditions are unique and exciting. I would love to go and celebrate the lunar new year down the road. It has many different aspects and meanings than the average “American New Year”. I love both, but personally the Lunar New Year seems more exciting! It’s not just celebrated for a day, it’s fifteen, which adds to the fun and excitement of celebrating a new year.