Lunar New Year: January new moon ushers in Year of the Rabbit

This weekend marks the first new moon of 2023 and the celebration of Lunar New Year: One of the most important holidays for China, Vietnam, South Korea and other Asian countries.

Also known as Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year is based on the complex Chinese lunisolar calendar, which combines both the moon’s 29.5-day cycle and the sun’s 365.25-day cycle, according to EarthSky.org.

As such, the timing for Lunar New Year can change from year to year. Celebrations typically begin on the date of the new moon that falls between January 21 and February 21 (according to the country’s timezone) and can last for two weeks, ending on the date of the following full moon.

In 2023, Lunar New Year begins on Sunday, January 22.

This year also rings in the Chinese zodiac’s Year of the Rabbit: One of 12 animal symbols sequentially assigned to each lunar year in a repeating 12-year cycle.

It’s believed that each zodiac animal can hint at the personalities of those born during that year. People born during a Year of the Rabbit are said to be multi-talented, affectionate and peace-seeking, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. (Previous Years of the Rabbit are 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 and 2011.)

Lunar New Year comes with many beloved festivities and traditions based around themes of family and good fortune. It also features a good dose of folklore, including the story of a village-destroying, people-eating monster called Nian that had to be scared away with fireworks, lanterns, drums and the color red — all of which are prominent in Lunar New Year celebrations.

In the weeks leading up to the Lunar New Year new moon, homes are deep-cleaned to sweep out bad luck and to welcome in the good. Lunar New Year’s Eve kicks off with feasts and fireworks, and the days that follow include parades, performances, ceremonies, gift exchanges and plenty of special, symbolic foods like dumplings (for wealth) and long noodles (for longevity). After two weeks, the celebrations come to an end with a Lantern Festival, during which people gather with lighted lanterns with the full moon up above.

The next Lunar New Year begins February 10, 2024: The Year of the Dragon.

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