Lessons from Lunar New Year: A Message From Dr. Wee, Interim DMACC President

On Feb. 17, over 1.4 billion Chinese (world population of 8 billion) around the globe will celebrate the Luna New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in China, Tết in Vietnam, and Seollal in Korea.

The first day of the new year arrives on a different date each year because it is based on the lunar calendar.

Every new year is represented by one of 12 zodiac creatures, creating a 12-year cycle. They are, in order, Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit. Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. 2026 is the year of the Horse.

The 15-day new year celebration is the most significant event for the Chinese people. The new year holiday travel season is considered the world's biggest annual mass migration of people. In China alone, almost nine billion trips will be made using public transport by hundreds of millions of Chinese traveling home for celebration. Why is the Lunar New Year so significant?

It strengthens family ties. One important gathering for Chinese families is the reunion dinner on new year's eve (Feb. 16 this year), a coming together and bonding as a family. The dinner symbolizes an auspicious start to the new year. For those who are unable to go home for the dinner, joining another family for the celebration is also a blessing. I have missed 42 consecutive reunion dinners with my family since I arrived in America in 1983.

It emphasizes respect and caring. On the first day of the new year, the oldest and most senior members of the family will be visited. It is a tradition to present them with red packets, usually containing money, to wish them longevity and good health. Children and unmarried young adults are also given the red packets to wish them good health and success in their educational and/or professional endeavors.

It focuses on starting the new year well. For example, certain foods are considered desirable during the Lunar New Year, such as noodles symbolizing longevity, dumplings symbolizing wealth an good fortune, sweet rice balls symbolizing family togetherness, tangerines and oranges symbolizing good luck, fish symbolizing surplus and abundance, abalone symbolizing good fortune, oysters symbolizing good news, and candies symbolizing sweetness in life. Symbolism is also found in the color of clothing during the Chinese celebration. Red, gold, and yellow, for example, are considered auspicious colors. Black, grey, and white are usually associated with occasions such as funerals and mourning ceremonies, thus making them inappropriate.

It renews and builds relationships. Visiting with families and friends is a large part of the new year celebration. Bearing gifts such as fruit (typically oranges), cakes, biscuits and candies are common. During the 15-day observance, some types of gifts are avoided, such as cutting utensils that symbolize termination of a relationship, clocks that symbolize death and funeral, umbrellas that symbolize disintegration, pears that symbolize separation, and shoes that symbolize an evil omen.

The celebration connects us to the larger universe. The seventh day (Feb. 23 this year) of the first lunar month is called literally, Human Day. My parents used to remind me that it's considered the birthday of humankind because people were created that day; other living things were created in the first six days. Many will celebrate the seventh day with fish ceviche that symbolizes abundance.

The 15th day of the new year (Mar. 3 this year) is the last day of celebration and marks the first full moon, also known as the Lantern Festival. Usually a dinner is held with colorful lanterns, dumplings, oranges, and tea. Families and friends will gather again to enjoy the beauty of the first full moon and each other's company.

On this my 43rd Lunar New Year in America, I wish all of us the gifts of family, friendship, love, well-being, respect, caring, gratitude, and understanding. Happy Lunar New Year.