Valentine's Day will not be alone this year even if you are. Somewhat oddly, the "Hallmark Holiday" – with the power to both rekindle romance while generating equal parts depression and disdain depending on your relationship status – will have some powerful company as Feb. 14 also marks the start of the Lunar or Chinese New Year as its commonly known.
As the most celebrated holiday in Asian culture, the Chinese New Year incorporates far more customs than the Americanized version that seemingly revolves around Dick Clark and Ryan Seacreast, Times Square, a glass ball, and let's face it, plenty of booze. Part Christmas, part Thanksgiving and maybe even a little bit of Halloween mixed in, the event is a celebratory battle of good versus evil, where families and friends gather to eat traditional foods and rejoice in shared customs all in the hopes of bringing good luck for the new year and celebrating the coming of Spring.
So if your New Year's Eve was somewhat of a bummer and you're anticipating Valentine's Day to follow suit, you might want to get in touch with your Eastern side and observe some of the regional events and traditions associated with the world's most celebrated cultural phenomenon.
Why Two New Years?
With all due respect to the annual midnight countdown every Dec. 31, the Western world does not hold the patent on New Year’s celebrations or even when they start.
While both American and Asian cultures mainly use the Gregorian or solar calendar that follows the Earth's movement around the sun to create our 365-day year, the lunar calendar is still used in both rural and urban Asian areas to determine traditional holidays like the Chinese New Year.
But since the lunar calendar is predicated on the varying phases of the moon as it orbits the Earth, Chinese New Year is never on the same date. Falling typically between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20, this year's celebration is later than most. In 2008, it fell on Feb. 7, and in 2009, it was Jan. 26. To provide a little historical perspective, while Americans were busy toasting to 2010 a few weeks back, Asian cultures will soon be preparing to ring in 4708.
Cindy Wang, the vice president of public relations for the Greater Philadelphia Asian Culture Center, reveals that although the holiday is commonly referred to as the Chinese New Year, almost all Asian cultures recognize it as a hugely important time of year.
"China is the biggest area in the region," she says. "But really, the holiday is very big in almost every culture, including Japan, Vietnam and Taiwan. Even though each culture may have different rituals and customs, the traditional meaning behind the Chinese New Year is pretty much the same."
Wang, who has lived just outside Philadelphia since moving from Beijing over a decade ago, says the celebrations traditionally run for 15 days, culminating with the Lantern Festival, which marks its end. The ritual involves leaving lanterns on the street as a symbol of good fortune. Often colored red, a popular color that also signifies good luck, prosperity is a constant theme.
And if you think two weeks is long to time to usher in a fresh start, according to Wang, celebrations initially lasted even longer, perhaps even a month. Historically, China has long supported an agriculturally based economy. Ancient Chinese farmers would take large stretches of time to rest since crops couldn't be planted during the winter.
A Time of Tradition
While varying Asian cultures may incorporate different traditions and symbols into marking the New Year, there are a few customs that remain consistent. Many families believe a clean house is necessary for good luck. Even before the celebrations start, it’s customary for homes to be detailed from top to bottom. New clothes and even a fresh haircut are other ways Asians signify a fresh start for the coming celebration. Large gatherings of family and friends are another constant to usher out the old and welcome the new.
Richard Le, a first-generation Vietnamese 30-something from New Jersey, says he will be celebrating the traditional “Tết” with several friends this year while incorporating the typical customs. "It's a big deal and a big undertaking if you are celebrating with a large family or a large group of people," Le says. "Really, the more people the better, but you really want to set a mood of joyfulness, not sadness. You don't want to have people around who bring negative energy."
Le says customary foods will also be prepared, each symbolizing something positive to bring success and prosperity. Noodles, which represent long life, and round fruits like nectarines and oranges, which reflect completeness, are a staple of any Chinese New Year menu. Typically, on the eve of the New Year, it’s common for families to enjoy eight or nine dishes because they’re considered lucky numbers.
Sara Yoo, a 25-year-old of Korean heritage, will be traveling to her grandmothers to celebrate “Seollal,” the Korean version of the Chinese New Year. "My dad was born and raised in Korea and was the first one from our family here," Yoo says. "Chinese New Year is a pretty big deal in our family, and we will have probably 20 to 25 people celebrating with us."
For Yoo and other Koreans, rituals involve dressing up in traditional “Hanbok,” a traditional, formal dress worn during festivals or celebrations, and enjoying steaming bowls of “dduk gook,” a Korean rice dumpling soup. The exchange of gifts and money is also a part of the day. It’s customary for adults to give children red envelopes – known as "hong bao" in Mandarin or "lai see" in Cantonese – throughout the Chinese New Year. The color also symbolizes wealth and protection from evil spirits.
Honor the Animal: The Year of the Tiger
One of the most recognized aspects of the Chinese New Year for non-Asians are the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, each represented once every 12 years. The animals – rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig – represent not only a cyclical concept of time but also a form horoscopes like in the Western world. While not taken too seriously, someone born in the Year of the Ox may be considered hard working and ambitious.
The animal signs are born of an ancient legend, which says the animals argued one day as to who was the head of the cycle. After the gods were asked to decide, there was a contest organized to see which animal would the first to reach the opposite bank of a river. Their subsequent order was marked by their finish. According to lore, the rat jumped on the back of the ox just as it was about to reach the shore, leaped off and won. The pig finished last due to his laziness.
In following the traditional zodiac, Feb. 14 marks the beginning of the Year of the Tiger. According to Wang, the tiger symbolizes courage and helps keep away three negative entities: fire, thieves and ghosts. The Year of the Tiger is generally considered to be a “tumultuous, hard working and vigorous year,” she adds.
As far as the astrological impact, people born in this year are often described as sensitive, clever, fearless and a little rebellious. Some famous personalities born in The Year of the Tiger include Emily Dickinson, Jay Leno, Karl Marx, Marilyn Monroe, Tom Cruise, Queen Elizabeth II and Emily Bronte.
What to Do, How to Celebrate
Wang, whose organization works as a bridge between Asian and non-Asian communities, says you don’t have to be in the East or even be Asian to appreciate the many area celebrations that will mark the Year of the Tiger. Throughout Philadelphia, parades will be held that will undoubtedly include fireworks and the popular Chinese dragon displays.
A particular favorite of Wang’s is the Shen Yun Performing Arts, a group that performs classical Chinese dance and music around the world. Each year, the group does a series of Chinese New Year shows that Wang says are a great representation of the Asian culture and its legends.
“Even though I was born in mainland China, I essentially found just as much or even more traditional cultural events here,” says Wang. “In the big city where I am from, they have lost some of that. From the parades around Chinatown to the big events in New York City, thousands of Asian people will be participating in what is our most important time of year.”
To witness or join in on the celebration in Philadelphia’s Chinatown, head down on the evening of Feb 13 or visit any Sunday through Mar. 1, the final day of festivities. The Shen Yun Performing Arts will be presenting a series of shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City from Feb. 13 through Feb. 21. For a complete list of show times, ticket prices and amenities, visit www.shenyunperformingarts.com.
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