Research Guides: Lunar New Year: Home

Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year is a major holiday celebrated in many parts of Asia and in Asian communities around the world. It marks the beginning of the year using the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. The Lunar New Year begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. Typically, Lunar New Year is observed in late January or early February of the Gregorian calendar.

Even though the Lunar New Year is not a public holiday in the United States, some states, such as California and Washington, have passed legislation recognizing the cultural significance of Lunar New Year. Some cities with large Asian American populations, including New York and San Francisco, close schools for the day. The U.S. Postal Service began issuing special stamps in 1992 to commemorate the Lunar New Year.

Lunar New Year customs vary across countries and regions. In many places in Asia, it is a public holiday and a major time period for travel. Commonalities include cleaning the house; settling debts and disputes; gathering with family and friends; eating auspicious foods; honoring elders and ancestors; exchanging gifts of money; and watching or participating in traditional dances, games, and other cultural activities.

Resources in the Spotlight

China (Chunjie)

Chinese New Year 2021
Provides history of ancient Chinese Lunar Calendar and 12 animal cycles representing new year. Also, focuses on the traditions, foods, and festival during the Lunar New Year.
Chinese New Year traditions
Provides information on how people celebrate New Year’s Eve, how festivals are celebrated throughout 15 day of Lunar New Year break and what they eat. Also, the symbolic meaning of red envelops and dragons.
The Lunar New Year: rituals and legends
Provides history of Lunar New Year and Chinese calendar. It goes in-depth on how and what they prepare before New Year. Also, provides what they do to celebrate the new year festivities and Lantern Festival.

Korea (Seollal)

Seollal in Korea: a glimpse of local customs
Learn about Seollal and what Koreans prepare the day before the start of the new lunar year. Read in depth about long-standing Korean Lunar New Year traditions such as greetings, ancestral rites, gift giving, foods, and games.
Seollal, Korean Lunar New Year
Provides the very centerpiece information of how Koreans celebrate Lunar New Year, which consist of ancestral rituals, foods, gifts, and fun activities.
What is Korean New Year?
Provides history of lunar calendar and how is it used now. Also, it goes in-depth on Lunar New Year traditions, foods, and games.

Mongol (Tsagaan Sar)

Tsagaan Sar: Lunar New Year festival
Provides in-depth history and traditions of Lunar New Year and White Moon festival. Also, talks about what Mongolians do before the first day of new year, what they eat, and what kind rituals they do.
What to do in Mongolia in February? Lunar New Years! Mongolian Tsagaan Sar festivities! a.k.a. Mongolian new years
Provides history and traditions of Tsagaan Sar. Great tips on what to prepare/bring and what to do when visiting Mongolian homes during the Lunar New Year.

Taiwan (Chunjie)

Chinese New Year
Provides history and traditions on how Taiwanese celebrate Lunar New Year. It does have some similarities from Chinese New Year, but it provides their own traditions and practices during the New Year.

Vietnam (Tet)

Lunar New Year in Vietnam
Shares what Lunar New Year means in Vietnam, what they eat, why they buy flowers, and what they do for good luck. Also, shares certain traditions that are associated with new year folk tale.
Tet, a celebration of rebirth
Discusses about the meaning and importance of Tet. Also, provides history, traditional celebrations, new traditions, and difference between Chinese and Vietnam animal cycle of Lunar New Year.
Tet Fest: Vietnamese New Year in the New Orleans Vietnamese Community
Provides in-depth history and traditions of Tet. Also, shares the importance of Tet to Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Americans.

Ask a Librarian

Need research assistance? One-on-one help is available via the Library’s Virtual Reference Room in Blackboard or phone (325-486-6534) during the following hours:

Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 2 – 6 p.m.
Sunday: 1 – 5 p.m.

You can also contact us via

email or by posting on the Ask a Librarian Discussion Board in Blackboard.
Messages sent outside of normal service hours will be answered the next day the library is open (check Library Hours of Operation for current schedule).