Lunar New Year 2023: Year of the Rabbit
WHEN IS IT? This year, Lunar New Year began on January 22 and ended on February 5.
Unlike the western New Year, Lunar New Year observance lasts more than a day and does not always start on January 1. The date changes depending on the year.
The Lunar New Year is based on the moon’s 12 phases, with each phase lasting around 29 days, and the full calendar year is around 354 days.
In China, Lunar New Year lasts from the new moon to the next full moon, which lasts around 15 days.
WHAT DOES IT REPRESENT? Lunar New Year, similar to how people celebrate New Year’s in western cultures, represents letting go of the past to welcome in a new year with peace, abundance and prosperity.
In the Chinese Zodiac, there are 12 animals with individual qualities and characteristics that coincide with the lunar calendar and fall in a 12-year cycle. Last year was the Year of the Tiger, which represented courage and strength, and this year will be the Year of the Rabbit, which is commonly associated with being attentive, detail-oriented, and obedient.
WHO CELEBRATES? Around 2 billion people around the world celebrate Lunar New Year, and it is considered one of the most prominent holidays in many Asian cultures, including Chinese, South Korean, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Filipino, and Indonesian culture.
It is important during Lunar New Year that families come together to celebrate and feast during the holiday, practice cultural customs, and pay respects to older generations.
As CREW members enter this new year, we honor the traditions of other communities, and we can learn from them. We can reflect on peace and prosperity for the year ahead, with a focus on being detail-oriented in our careers and attentive to our profession and each other. Happy New Year!
If you would like to read more about the Lunar New Year, here’s an interesting story from USA Today:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2023/01/09/when-is-lunar-new-year-2023-year-of-rabbit/10712258002/