新年快樂 Happy Lunar New Year! This year, it lands on February 1, 2022, and it’s the Year of the Tiger. Lunar New Year marks the first new moon in the Lunar calendar, and this celebration actually lasts until the moon is completely full – that means a whole 15 days of firecrackers, celebrations, and good food. This holiday typically flies under the radar in the US, but in my Asian-American household, we upheld the traditional cultural festivities that have enhanced my understanding of my Chinese Culture.
RED HOT
What’s Lunar New Year without wearing RED? Bring out the Cayenne flames and scare away the bad energy. In Asia, red represents prosperity, good luck, and happiness. Chinese people believe wearing red and making loud explosive noises would scare away any monsters and dark spirits lurking the area. On top of that, you can’t forget about the red packets (Hong Bao) filled with money to come in…you definitely don’t want to miss out.
Clean Clothes
Time for a clean start. Wash all of your clothes PRIOR to Chinese New Year to ward off last year’s energy. Start fresh with a clean set, but once the new year sets in, don’t wash away the good luck. I’ve been obsessed with Shakti so I’ll be wearing this lucky set this year.
BIG CAT ENERGY
The year of the Tiger, coming in STRONG! If you were born in 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, or 2010, congrats – it’s your year! This year, the Tiger represents a year of big changes. While I’m the year of the Rabbit, I just made a big move across the country and am embracing what the year of the Tiger represents.
Thinking of Tigers, they like to do things their own way and tend to ignore any opinions that block them for better or worse. While Tigers can be adventurous and passionate, watch out for their short temper. But, we can all learn from their incredible willpower and perseverance that allows them to achieve their goals.
What does this mean for all of us other animals? Well, for our Ox and Goat friends, it looks like you’ll be rolling in luck this year. The Rat, Snake, Monkey, Pig and Dog may need to try a bit harder. But for the rest of us, we’ll be sailing smoothly.
Other than red, this year’s lucky color also includes blues and greens. In contrast to the Tiger’s fiery energy, calm it down with some earthy hues like Eucalyptus, Juniper or Aqua Aura to wash away any stress and insecurities.
Aside from the Tiger year, the Lunar New Year also rotates in elemental energies. This year the water sign will trigger our emotions bringing out more communications between your relationships and yourself. So bring out your inner Tiger and try something new–it’s the year of change, afterall.
Want to know what your Zodiac sign is? Find out here
Good company and good food
Get ready to feast! Lunar New Year starts off with a bang with family gatherings, exciting shows, and some damn good food. You’ll find lion dances, firecrackers and ubiquitous explosive energy in the air. Schools, offices, and stores all have a full week off for this holiday, so you KNOW everybody is celebrating. The food is unbeatable and some of my favorite moments growing up were at the table on Lunar New Year. My favorite dish would be the soup dumplings. If you haven’t tried it yet it’s definitely my top pick. It’s also one of the most important foods to eat since the shape of Chinese dumplings closely resembles ancient gold. Bring on the dumplings!
So go off and have a blast! Lunar New Year welcomes a brand new energy into 2022 with the roar of the Tiger to guide us on a prosperous, and courageous path to the new year.
About the Author
Angela Lin, Marketing Coordinator
Angela is a graphic designer and marketer who recently moved to Los Angeles. Many people describe her as a ball of bubbly energy. You'll find her on social media or binge watching the latest show. She loves creating adorable sketches and is always working on mastering new styles. Born in 1999, this small bunny hopes to achieve her big dreams in her new city.
