(photo by Vuong Viet on pixabay)

*sent out a day early due to travel

Being aware of your neighbor’s traditions is important. Growing up in Vancouver, Canada, where there is a huge Chinese diaspora, meant that lunar New Year was observed by many locals. It is also celebrated in a long list of other Asian countries. (In Muslim countries, a subsequent new moon marks the start of Ramadan).

In the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is the year of the snake. If your age is a multiple of twelve, then you are a snake, known to be cautious, cool, and mysterious. Interestingly, if you are a snake, this year is considered bad luck because you are in a year of rebirth and flux, and therefore more susceptible to evil spirits. Snakes should not get married, move, or start a new job in 2025.

Family’s will gather during the sixteen day spring festival, starting on lunar new year Jan. 29th and ending with the lantern festival on Feb. 16th. On New Year’s Day, there will be fireworks to ward off evil spirits, red envelope money packets for the children, tasty treats like dumplings, gifts, and special cakes. Families will not sweep or throw away garbage on the new year, for fear they might inadvertently throw away any good luck from inside the home.

Each zodiac symbol is associated with a compass direction, and a shrine in the home is placed in this corner. Prayers typically ask for health, wealth, a large family, and in farming areas, for a good planting season.  

The lantern festival is also like our Valentine’s Day because it is one of the few days when young women were traditionally allowed out at night to mingle with potential suitors. Some young adults will even hire a companion to bring home for New Year’s to impress their family and give them hope for future grandchildren.

Do you have any neighbors who celebrate different traditions than your own? Please subscribe / share a comment below.