Lunar New Year is known as Chinese New Year and is celebrated in China and then was adopted as a holiday by many eastern Asia countries such as China, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Mongolia, Taiwan, and many others. Lunar New Year is a very important holiday that originated in China around 3,000-4,000 years ago. 

The Lunar New Year goes on for 15 days and each new year celebration is tied to the zodiac of the year. There are 12 animals that rotate and change every year. This year is the year of the fire horse which means forward movement, independence, and endurance. In addition to the rotation pattern of the 12 animals, the Chinese Lunar calendar also rotates around the five traditional Chinese elements of Earth, Wood, Fire, Metal, and Water. The animal rotates every year while the element rotates every two years, and that’s why in 2024 it was the year of the Wood Dragon and this year is the year of the Fire Horse. 

Common traditions for Lunar New year are wearing all red and decorating in all red, have family reunion dinners, celebrate a lantern festival, and gifting/receiving red envelopes that contain money inside.