When the Lunar New Year holiday arrives each year, it brings a flood of fond memories for me. My family immigrated from Seoul, South Korea, to Canada when I was 5 years old, and my parents wanted to make sure I didn’t forget my Korean roots, or the importance of tradition — especially one as vital as Lunar New Year, which is called Seollal in Korean.
The Seollal holiday was just one way my parents tried to keep our heritage alive. I’m so grateful that they did things like encourage me to watch K-dramas or listen to K-pop music so I wouldn’t forget my language. The stories they told me, the food we ate, and the traditions that were passed down all played an integral part in who I am today as a Canadian-Korean woman.
Contrary to what many people outside Asia may think, Lunar New Year is not an exclusively Chinese holiday. True, it follows the Chinese Lunar calendar (in 2023, it falls on January 22, the Year of the Rabbit), but the holiday is celebrated across Asia, and each country has its own customs and traditions. Lunar New Year is most often celebrated by eating specific dishes, usually with the entire family, and observing superstitions meant to bring good luck for the coming year.
Here’s how Lunar New Year is celebrated in some Asian countries.
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