The Lunar New Year, or the Chinese New Year, is celebrated globally with projections estimating upwards of one billion people recognise the holiday each year.
The holiday falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, and celebrations can last up to 15 days to the full moon.
While the Gregorian calendar — based on Earth's orbit around the sun — is more commonly used worldwide, lunar calendars mark important holidays in many Asian cultures, with — being one of the most important.
While it's most closely associated with China, the holiday is also widely celebrated in countries such as North Korea, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Japan, to name a few.
This year's date falls on 29 January, with 2025 marking the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac.
At SBS, we asked some of our colleagues how they mark the occasion.
South Korea
Many Australians will likely associate the holiday with little red envelopes and lion dancing, but Leah Hyein Na, executive producer of SBS Korean, said each culture has its own unique traditions.
"For the Korean community, red is not a special colour to celebrate Lunar New Year," she said.
"Just like when you see our traditional clothing, Hanbok, we embrace all sorts of different colours — pink, green, blue, even black colours."
Tteokguk is a traditional Korean soup made with rice cakes and broth and is a traditional dish eaten on New Year's Day. Source: Getty / RunPhoto
Food plays a central role in Lunar New Year celebrations, with Na explaining that people often eat rice cake soup or tteokguk.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, Trinh Nguyen, a producer for SBS Vietnamese, said the Lunar New Year, or Tết, is a public holiday.
"So, pretty much the same with what people in Australia do to celebrate Christmas, we can see Lunar New Year everywhere," she said.
In southern Vietnam, the yellow mai (ochna) flower blooms in spring, coinciding with the Lunar New Year and symbolising luck, wealth, and happiness.
In the north, pink peach blossoms are displayed as symbols of rebirth and success.
Pink peach blossoms are showcased as symbols of rebirth and prosperity in north Vietnam. Source: Getty / Vietnam
The shapes of traditional cakes differ too across the country — square in the north and cylindrical in the south.
The Vietnamese zodiac also includes a cat instead of a rabbit and a buffalo instead of an ox.
"Down to the details, it will be different. But the spirit, the atmosphere, the way we celebrate, they are the same," Nguyen said.
Hong Kong
In much of Hong Kong, the occasion is marked by a week-long holiday with large celebrations in Victoria Park while families enjoy feasts of abalone (sea ears or muttonfish), chicken and other seafood dishes.
Ivan Leung, a producer for SBS Cantonese, said it's a busy time of the year.
"It is Christmas on steroids," he said.
"I have four uncles so that means that for my Lunar New Year, I have to visit them one by one, so that means already four nights of different meals."
Professor Xiaohuan Zhao, a sinologist from Sydney University, specialising in traditional Chinese literature and theatre, said many Lunar New Year dishes are symbolic.
For example, in mainland China, dumplings, shaped like traditional Chinese money, are hoped to bring fortune and wealth.
"One of the most important parts of the celebration is the family reunion dinner," he said.
Other traditions include lighting fireworks and gifting money from older to younger family members, before festivities wrap up with the lantern festival.
Celebrations in South Asia
Further south, Buddhist communities in Nepal, India, Bhutan and Tibet also celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Known as Lhosar, different communities mark the holiday based on distinct lunar calendars, though celebrations often coincide with those in East Asia.
Lhosar is a festival celebrated by the Buddhist communities of Nepal, along with people from India, Bhutan and Tibet, including the Gurung, Tamang and Sherpa communities. Source: AAP / Prabin Ranabhat
Similar to East Asia, each year in these communities is represented by a zodiac animal, though the animals can vary slightly, including the cow, cat, eagle, and deer.
Dil Tamang, one of the founding members of the Tamang Society of Sydney - NSW, said in his community, Lhosar celebrations usually begin with a cleanse before friends and family gather to enjoy traditional music and dance and share a meal, including a popular deep-fried pastry called khapse.
"First thing in the morning we make sure our house is clean and make sure every corner of the house gets incensed.
"Then we put flags around the house, do some worship, do some chanting, and honour our ancestors."
For those in Australia, preparations are in full swing, with Sydney's celebrations considered among the largest outside of Asia.
