Unique Lunar New Year customs in various countries
Discover the cultural beauty and traditional rituals of countries around the world that celebrate Lunar New Year, from family reunion feasts to unique street festivals.
Lunar New Year is not only the most important holiday in Vietnam but also a distinctive cultural heritage of many Asian countries. It is an occasion for communities to connect with their roots, perform spiritual rituals, and pray for a prosperous and peaceful new year.
Unique aspects of Lunar New Year in various countries
Vietnam: Preserving Traditional Values
In Vietnam, Tet is a time when family members gather around the New Year's Eve dinner table and pay their respects to their ancestors. Symbolic images such as peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, banh chung (square sticky rice cake), and banh tet (cylindrical sticky rice cake) are deeply ingrained in everyone's consciousness.
Despite the changes in modern society and the trend of traveling during the Lunar New Year, traditional customs such as visiting temples or wishing teachers and parents a Happy New Year are still preserved intact.
China: The cradle of the Lunar New Year
China is considered the birthplace of the Lunar New Year, with a history spanning thousands of years. People typically decorate their homes with vibrant red colors to pray for good fortune and ward off bad luck.
The highlights here are the spectacular lion and dragon dances and the lantern festival. This is also the time of the "Spring Festival travel rush" – the world's largest migration as people strive to return to their hometowns.
South Korea: Seollal (Lunar New Year) - Family Reunion
In Korea, the Lunar New Year is called Seollal, one of the most important holidays. People often wear Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) to perform rituals of bowing to elders in their families.
The iconic dish is Tteokguk, a rice cake soup associated with the belief that eating a bowl of it adds one year to one's age. Folk games such as Yutnori (stick throwing) and kite flying are also very popular.
Singapore and Malaysia: A cultural intersection.
Singapore celebrates Lunar New Year with a blend of Chinese tradition and modern style. The River Hongbao festival, with its spectacular light shows, is the biggest attraction in the Lion City.
In Malaysia, the Chinese community celebrates the Lunar New Year with great fanfare. A signature dish is Yee Sang – a raw fish salad that everyone tosses high in the air in the hope of a prosperous new year.
Mongolia and Bhutan: New Year celebrations on the steppes and high mountains.
In Mongolia, the New Year is called Tsagaan Sar (White Month), marking the end of winter. People often give each other blue Khadag silk sashes, symbolizing the sky and peace.
In Bhutan, Losar is a time to offer sacrifices to the gods at temples. The festive atmosphere is filled with the sounds of traditional musical instruments, masked dances, and lively archery competitions.
Comparing customs between countries
Despite sharing many common meanings of reunion and wishing for well-being, each country still retains its own unique characteristics in cuisine and rituals.
In terms of cuisine, Vietnam has banh chung (rice cake), Korea has banh gao soup (rice cake soup), while China favors dumplings (sui gao). Regarding gifts, the Vietnamese and Chinese use red envelopes, while Mongolians prioritize items made of silver or silk.
Trends in celebrating Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) in the digital age.
Modern technology is changing the way we shop for and exchange New Year greetings. Electronic lucky money envelopes and video calls are becoming increasingly popular, helping to connect people who are far away.
Today's youth also tend to reconnect with their roots by wearing traditional clothing or participating in workshops on traditional crafts, contributing to the spread of cultural values on global social media.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lunar New Year
- When is Lunar New Year 2026?The first day of the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse 2026) will fall on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
- Which country has the longest Lunar New Year holiday?Vietnam and China typically have the longest holidays, lasting from 7 to 10 days.
- Do all Asian countries celebrate the Lunar New Year?No. Japan has switched to celebrating the Gregorian New Year, while countries like Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia celebrate their traditional New Year in April.
