Think Lunar New Year is only a Chinese celebration? Think again!
The Lunar New Year is a vibrant annual celebration in China, heralding the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year according to the traditional Chinese Lunar calendar. Dates shift each year and are tied to a specific zodiac animal. For example, 2025 marks 29th January 29 as the start of the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese zodiac.
Traditions play a pivotal role in fostering good fortune, banishing bad luck for a prosperous and harmonious year ahead.
This occasion spans across all of Asia, with each country adding its own distinctive twist to the traditions. Wherever you are in Asia, the Lunar New Year is a time for feasting, family, and fun — with a bit of magic to keep good fortune flowing all year long!
May the dragon and lion dances lead you on a splendid tour of Lunar New Year traditions in Asia!
China
China’s Lunar New Year festivities are a family affair, with New Year’s Eve being the grand event. Fresh clothes in lucky colours of red and gold are a must, while delicious flour-based dishes such as baos, dumplings, and noodles make for a deliciously symbolic feast. Some dumplings even hide a lucky coin, sparking a fun treasure hunt for the kids! Superstitions abound, from avoiding new shoes to steering clear of haircuts — it’s all about ensuring good fortune sticks around for the year ahead.
Hong Kong
Lunar New Year is an electrifying celebration filled with dazzling parades, dragon dances, and spectacular fireworks lighting up the night sky. Families gather for lavish reunion dinners of fish (for abundance) and dumplings (for wealth). Red envelopes, or lai see, filled with money, are exchanged, spreading good fortune across generations. The city also hosts the famous flower markets, where locals shop for auspicious blooms like orchids and kumquat trees.
Indonesia
Imlek is a lively celebration that blends traditional Chinese customs with local flair. Streets and homes are adorned in red lanterns and decorations, representing good fortune, while families gather for a festive reunion dinner filled with lucky dishes such as fish, sticky rice cakes, and spring rolls. Temples are visited for prayers and ancestor worship, and vibrant lion and dragon dances light up the streets, accompanied by fireworks. Superstitions, like avoiding cleaning on New Year's Day to preserve luck, add to the charm.
Malaysia
Malaysia takes the Lunar New Year to the next level with a 15-day extravaganza, culminating in Chap Goh Mei, a grand finale. Family gatherings are a highlight, with yee sang (a prosperity salad) and mandarin oranges mirroring good fortune. Cheongsam is worn and some families invite lion dancers for a blessing and to ward off evil spirits.
Philippines
The Philippines has a unique spin on the celebrations, with children jumping for joy at midnight, believing it will make them grow taller. The Media Noche feast features round fruits (indicating family unity) and sticky rice dishes, while long noodles like pancit are eaten to promote long life. Fun superstitions include wearing polka dots to attract prosperity, and fireworks scare off bad spirits.
Singapore
Over in Singapore, the Lunar New Year is celebrated in full force, with a large Chinese community marking the occasion with feasts, red envelopes, and ancestral worship. Classic treats such as nian gao (sticky rice cakes) and yusheng (raw fish salad) make an appearance, while the extravagant Chingay Parade showcases dazzling floats and lion dancers. The River Hongbao festival adds even more sparkle to the city’s celebrations.
South Korea
Festivities stretch over three days, dedicated to showing respect to ancestors and elders. Along with donning traditional garb like the vibrant hanbok, children bow deeply (known as seh bae) to their elders, receiving money and sage advice for the year to come. Afterwards is time to indulge in comforting dishes such as mandu (dumplings), dduk-guk (rice cake soup), and galbijjim (braised beef short ribs). Traditional games like Yut Nori and kite-flying add an extra touch of fun.
Taiwan
The primary focus is on food, with dumplings and pineapple being the stars of the holiday spread. It’s considered lucky to leave some fish on your plate embodies abundance. Like elsewhere, red envelopes are exchanged, and fireworks light up the sky. Interestingly, lit lanterns written with wishes are lifted to the air as well.
Vietnam
The holiday is known as Tết, and it’s all about family, food, and prayers for a prosperous year. Traditional treats such as bánh Tét (sticky rice cakes) and bánh chưng (square cakes) take centre stage, pickled scallions and dried shrimp adding flavour to the celebrations. The áo dài, a stunning silk tunic, is the traditional attire for both men and women. The Vietnamese pay off debts, clean their homes and ensure nothing is thrown away on New Year's Day to keep luck intact.