Celebratory Storybooks for Lunar New Year 2023: Embracing the Year of the Rabbit
The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a significant celebration in East Asian cultures. This festival, which marks the arrival of spring and the start of a new year according to the Chinese lunisolar calendar, extends over 7 to 15 days.
The festivities begin on Lunar New Year's Eve, when families gather for a reunion dinner, symbolising unity and renewal. Homes are cleaned beforehand to sweep away bad fortune.
On New Year's Day (Day 1), people welcome the new year with fireworks, give out red envelopes containing money, and honour ancestors. It's customary to wear red to bring luck and ward off evil spirits.
Throughout the festival, activities such as visiting relatives and friends, lion and dragon dances to bring prosperity, temple visits for prayers and offerings, and eating traditional foods considered lucky (e.g., dumplings, fish, rice cakes) take place.
Specific days during the festival have special meanings. For example, Day 2 is traditionally when people visit their spouse’s family and offer sacrifices to the gods of the household. Day 3 is often considered a day to stay home to avoid conflict. Days 5 onward include more temple fairs and cultural performances.
The festival concludes with the Lantern Festival on the final day. On this day, people enjoy tangyuan, sweet glutinous rice balls, and children carry lanterns to light up their neighbourhoods at night.
The Lunar New Year is celebrated from January 22nd, 2023, to February 9th, 2024. This year, we are entering the Year of the Water Rabbit, a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture.
In addition to China, other Asian countries with Chinese influence also celebrate Lunar New Year, with festivals and family gatherings. If you'd like to share your favourite way to celebrate Lunar New Year, feel free to comment below!
There are also a variety of children's books available about Lunar New Year, featuring rabbit characters and stories. Some popular titles include "Sato the Rabbit," "Ruby's Chinese New Year," and "Bunny, My Honey."
So, gear up for a joyful and prosperous Lunar New Year! May the festivities bring you happiness, good fortune, and a sense of unity with your loved ones. As they say in Mandarin, "Gong Xi Fa Chai!" or in Cantonese, "Kung Hei Fat Choy!" - wishing you a prosperous year ahead.
- One could spend the Lunar New Year evening engrossed in a heartwarming children's book like "Sato the Rabbit" or "Ruby's Chinese New Year," as they celebrate the arrival of the Water Rabbit, a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity.
- The Lunar New Year festival, encompassing themes of lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, and travel, extends to various aspects of life, with activities like visits to relatives, temple fairs, and cultural performances.
- In the midst of the festivities, you might find yourself shopping for home-and-garden decorations, particularly during the temple fairs and cultural performances that take place starting from Day 5 and onwards of the celebration.
