Besides Vietnam, how do other countries celebrate Lunar New Year?

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Lunar New Year is now considered one of the biggest festivals on the planet, with over a billion people participating in Asia and many communities in the West.

Spring Festival in China

In China, the Lunar New Year is called Chunjie (Chūnjié). It is the most important festival of the year.

Chinese people spend up to 15 days celebrating, from the 1st to the 15th day of the first lunar month.

During this time, almost all economic and social activities come to a halt to focus on family reunions, cleaning the house, decorating it in vibrant red, and preparing traditional dishes such as wontons, steamed buns, and whole fish, symbolizing abundance.

Lunar New Year is the most important traditional occasion for the Chinese people (Photo: Luo Pengfei).

The streets were filled with fireworks, lion dances, and dragon dances – symbols that ward off bad luck and attract good fortune.

However, in the modern context, this custom is also influenced by trends in mobility, entertainment, and tourism .

Many Chinese people choose to travel abroad during their long holiday. Reuters reported that Chinese tourists flocked to Thailand, Russia, and Australia during this year's nine-day Lunar New Year holiday, creating record-breaking travel waves.

Seollal in South Korea and North Korea

Seollal is the name of the Lunar New Year celebrated in both South Korea and North Korea. Although sharing a common cultural origin, the way the two countries celebrate Seollal clearly reflects differences in social life and cultural policies.

In South Korea, Seollal is one of the two most important holidays of the year, alongside Chuseok (Mid-Autumn Festival). People get several days off for the official holiday, families return to their hometowns, perform ancestral worship rituals, wear hanbok, wish elders a happy new year, and enjoy tteokguk – a rice cake soup considered a symbol of entering a new age.

Lunar New Year festival at Namsangol Hanok Village (South Korea) (Photo: Korea Herald).

The atmosphere of Seollal in Korea is family-oriented and traditional, with folk games such as kite flying and badminton. In recent years, many young families have tended to simplify the rituals, but the spirit of reunion remains a core value.

In North Korea, people welcomed Seollal by visiting monuments to the leader, participating in community activities, performing arts, and holding collective events.

Despite differences in form, Seollal in both South Korea and North Korea shares core Confucian cultural values, emphasizing family, elders, and new beginnings.

Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia

In Mongolia, the Lunar New Year is called Tsagaan Sar (White Moon), symbolizing purity and new beginnings. Unlike the dazzling fireworks displays in other countries, Tsagaan Sar takes place in the harsh winter, where snow blankets the steppe.

In Mongolian culture, the color white is also associated with milk and dairy products, which are fundamental to nomadic life. Therefore, the Tsagaan Sar banquet always includes dairy dishes such as dried cheese and fermented mare's milk, symbolizing the wish for prosperity.

For Mongolians, Tsagaan Sar is an occasion to preserve traditions, strengthen family bonds, and reflect on oneself (Photo: Wild Mongolia).

People perform the zolgokh ritual – a traditional greeting showing respect to elders – and enjoy layered ul boov cakes and dairy products, typical products of nomadic life.

Tsagaan Sar is a national holiday in Mongolia. The state organizes cultural activities, exhibitions, and folk art performances. However, the focus remains on family, so visits to relatives can last for several days.

This festival is not only a time for reunion but also signifies the end of the long winter on the steppe.

Lunar New Year of the Chinese community

In multi-ethnic countries like Singapore and Malaysia, Lunar New Year is not just a Chinese holiday but has become a major cultural event.

The streets were brightly decorated, with the Chinatowns standing out the most with lanterns, lion dances, parades, and more.

Shopping malls, restaurants, and community organizations also host various cultural activities, art performances, and Tet shopping programs.

In Singapore, many activities are organized both inside and outside Chinatowns during the Lunar New Year (Photo: Vaniday).

In North America, Europe, and Australia, Asian communities and cultural organizations have integrated Lunar New Year into urban life.

Major cities like San Francisco (USA), Toronto (Canada), or Sydney (Australia)... all organize dragon parades, lion dances, and street festivals that attract large crowds. In these places, Tet is not only a traditional celebration but also an opportunity to promote Asian culture more broadly.

Despite variations in name and customs, the spirit of the holiday always revolves around reunion, ancestor veneration, new beginnings, and hopes for good fortune.

Each country adds its own unique cultural touches, creating a diverse yet vibrant tapestry of festivals on the map of human culture.

Lunar New Year celebration in Moscow (Russia) (Photo: Sina).

Especially in the context of globalization, Lunar New Year is increasingly being embraced beyond Asia. Celebrations held in the West are not only for people of Asian descent but also open to anyone curious about the culture and wanting to experience the festive atmosphere.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/ngoai-viet-nam-cac-quoc-gia-don-tet-nguyen-dan-ra-sao-20260215230521838.htm