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From giving red envelopes in China to sharing traditional bánh chưng in Vietnam, here are the unique ways these countries celebrate Lunar New Year.
From China to Korea and Vietnam, discover how various countries ring in the Lunar New Year to celebrate new beginnings.
Each Lunar New Year brings back fond memories for me. My family immigrated from Seoul to Canada when I was five, and my parents worked hard to ensure I remembered my roots and the significance of traditions like Seollal. They enrolled me in Sunday Korean school, encouraged me to enjoy K-dramas and K-pop, and shared stories and foods that shaped my identity as a Canadian-Korean woman.
How to Celebrate Lunar New Year: Insights from Hong Kong Locals
Lunar New Year isn’t just a Chinese holiday. While it follows the Chinese Lunar calendar, many countries in Asia celebrate it in their own ways. People usually gather with family, enjoy special dishes, and follow traditions that bring good luck for the coming year. Here’s how Lunar New Year is celebrated across Asia.
KOREA
In Korea, Lunar New Year lasts three days, a time to honor ancestors and elders. Koreans have two ages: an official age and a traditional age that starts at one and increases each New Year.
During this celebration, families wear hanbok, traditional clothing, and children greet elders with deep bows called seh bae. In return, they receive money and advice for the year ahead. I treasure a childhood photo of me in a bright yellow hanbok, bowing to my grandparents for New Year’s money.
After the bows, we enjoy festive foods like mandu (dumplings) and dduk-guk (rice cake soup). Other treats include galbijjim (braised beef) and ddeok (rice cakes).
We also play traditional games like Yut Nori, a fun board game, and fly kites for good luck.
CHINA
In China, Lunar New Year celebrations mainly happen on New Year's Eve, when families gather to celebrate. It’s common to wear new clothes in lucky colors like red and gold.
In northern China, traditional dishes made from flour, such as baos, pancakes, noodles, and dumplings, are enjoyed, often prepared from scratch by families. Dumplings are served with fish, symbolizing abundance, and some even hide a lucky coin for children to find. Family members exchange red envelopes filled with money, as well.
There are also superstitions associated with this holiday. For instance, people avoid buying new shoes and ensure their homes are cleaned beforehand to avoid washing away good luck. Cutting or washing hair is also avoided at the start of the year.
VIETNAM
In Vietnam, Lunar New Year is called Tết, a special time spent with family. Traditional foods like bánh Tét (cylinder-shaped sticky rice cake) and bánh chưng (square sticky rice cake) are central to the celebrations, with bánh chưng being especially popular in the north. Other dishes enjoyed include củ kiệu (pickled scallions), tom kho (dried shrimp), and mut Tét (candied fruits).
During Tết, many people wear the áo dài, a traditional silk tunic worn over pants by both men and women. Families visit temples to pray for good luck, health, and prosperity. Some common superstitions include paying off debts, cleaning the house before the new year, and avoiding throwing anything away on New Year's Day to preserve good fortune. Children also receive red envelopes filled with money from older relatives.
SINGAPORE
In Singapore, where about 75% of the population is Chinese, Lunar New Year is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Traditional foods like nian gao (sticky rice cakes), pineapple tarts, and yusheng (raw fish salad) are popular. People exchange red envelopes with the character "Fú," which means good luck. It's customary to honor ancestors by visiting temples and lighting incense.
One of the highlights of the celebration is the Chingay Parade, featuring colorful floats and lion dancers. The biggest Chinese New Year festival in Singapore is the River Hongbao, held at various locations across the country.
MALAYSIA
In Malaysia, Lunar New Year celebrates the arrival of spring and lasts for 15 days, ending with a big celebration called Chap Goh Mei. Families gather for a reunion dinner during this time.
Traditional foods include yee sang, a salad for good luck; nian gao, a New Year cake; and mandarin oranges, which symbolize good fortune. Children and unmarried family members receive red envelopes (ang pow) with money. Many families also invite lion dancers to their homes for blessings.
People wear traditional clothes called cheongsam (or qipao). If it’s your zodiac year, wearing gold is believed to bring even more luck.
TAIWAN
In Taiwan, Lunar New Year is all about food. Dumplings are the most popular dish, along with pineapple. It’s considered lucky to leave some fish uneaten, as keeping leftovers is a good sign.
Taiwanese people often celebrate by spending time with family and elders at home. They exchange red envelopes, and many neighborhoods celebrate with fireworks.
PHILIPPINES
In the Philippines, when the clock strikes midnight, children and adults jump for joy, believing it helps them grow taller. The main celebration is called Media Noche, a midnight feast meant to bring prosperity. Tables are filled with round fruits, which symbolize family unity and come from Chinese traditions.
Traditional foods include sticky rice dishes like biko, bibingka, and nian gao, which are thought to strengthen family bonds. People also enjoy pancit (long noodles) for health and good luck in the year ahead.
A unique superstition is that wearing polka dots will bring wealth and fortune due to their round shape. Fireworks are set off to scare away bad spirits, and lights are turned on with doors and windows left open. Many people avoid spending money on New Year’s Day to promote better finances.
In Vietnam, Lunar New Year is called Tết, a special time spent with family. Traditional foods like bánh Tét (cylinder-shaped sticky rice cake) and bánh chưng (square sticky rice cake) are central to the celebrations, with bánh chưng being especially popular in the north. Other dishes enjoyed include củ kiệu (pickled scallions), tom kho (dried shrimp), and mut Tét (candied fruits).
During Tết, many people wear the áo dài, a traditional silk tunic worn over pants by both men and women. Families visit temples to pray for good luck, health, and prosperity. Some common superstitions include paying off debts, cleaning the house before the new year, and avoiding throwing anything away on New Year's Day to preserve good fortune. Children also receive red envelopes filled with money from older relatives.
