This past Tuesday, Feb. 17, roughly two billion people throughout the world gathered and celebrated the start of the Lunar New Year as this year marks the start of the Year of the Fire Horse. This year’s observation is a particularly rare occurrence as the Year of the Fire Horse is only celebrated once every sixty years and symbolizes intense energy, passion, and rapid transformation. As it’s symbology in Eastern culture’s combine the independent horse with the fire element, representing a dynamic, bold, and culturally significant year that is characterized by quick decisions and change.
The first Lunar New Year celebrations can be dated back to roughly 3500 years ago during the Shang Dynasty in modern day China and originally functioned as a time to celebrate the end of winter, and beginning of spring becoming deeply tied with agricultural cycles and the lunar cycle. The new year has always started on the first new moon closest to the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox always falling between the third week of January and third week of February.
With respects to Chinese culture, there are several superstitions and traditions that have been carried on throughout generations in hope of starting off the new year strong and full of good fortune. Some of these traditions include a deep cleaning of one’s home, which symbolizes ridding the household of bad luck heading into the new year. Another culturally symbolic gesture has to do with decorating one’s homes with red lanterns or notes of paper the night prior to the holidays. In Chinese culture, red is the color of joy and good fortune making it strongly associated with the new year celebrations.
I had the opportunity to speak with Grand Forks resident Bailey Olson, who recently attended one of her close friend’s Lunar New Year celebrations and asked her about her experience. Olson stated that she found it “incredibly cool that the Lunar New Year is able to bring people together and give them a reason to celebrate during the winter months” and that she is incredibly grateful that this past year she was able to be a part of those celebrations gaining a new appreciation for Chinese culture.
Despite not being a federal holiday within the United States, there are countless Asian American households that celebrate the Lunar New Year each year and there are a growing number of cities and states that recognize the holiday on a local level as well. This year’s celebrations are scheduled to take place for sixteen days and mark an exciting new chapter for those who celebrate as the year of the fire horse takes place.
Daniel Silva is a Dakota Student General Reporter. He can be reached at daniel.a.[email protected].
