Year of the Rat brings prosperity, longevity

Celebrated by over 1.4 billion people annually, Lunar New Year, also referred to as Chinese New Year, is practiced in many different ways. Despite this, many West students are not familiar with the holiday. For 2020, festivities begin all around the globe on January 25, the first day of the Lunar Calendar, commencing the year of the rat. The calendar is based on the phases of the moon, so the date changes every year.

“We have animals that signify what year you were born,” sophomore Liana Wong said. “ When it’s your year, you are supposed to have good luck.”

These Chinese Zodiac animals are known to define an individuals’s personality and future. During the New Year, family reunions are cherished, and groups all over the world have many similar traditions. “Every year we have a dragon dance,” Wong said. “We also get red pocket money, a red pouch with money in it from relatives.”

Dragons, lanterns, and the color red are special among lucky symbols. Superstitions and beliefs are taken very seriously, especially in East Asia. Many of these traditional beliefs are passed down through generations. “We do a food sacrifice to our elders,” sophomore Will Vu said. “Any food we bring to the table, we always let the elders eat first. Then, anyone who has died, we give them food as a sacrifice. We go on our knees, bow three times, and then say our prayers. We use a lot of incense.”

As with many other holidays, food plays a big role in Lunar New Year. Certain foods signify good luck, wealth, longevity, and a fresh start. “When we eat, we usually have a big feast,” Wong said. “We mainly eat a lot of vegetables, fish, and chicken.”

Although some Asian- Americans celebrate the holiday very traditionally, others have slightly changed their practices while still ob- serving some long-established customs. “We usually eat traditional Chinese food, but it depends on the year,” Vu said. “Sometimes we just eat calamari - we just eat anything our parents can cook.”

Lunar New Year is cherished and revered, especially in Asia, but many Americans have faced obstacles during their festivities. The culture in America is accepting, but many Americans are not aware of other cultural celebrations. “I don’t think that people talk about it as much,” Wong said. “It is important to preserve our traditions in order to show diversity.”

In a community without many cultures, it is difficult for a celebrant of Lunar New Year to preserve traditions. “To an extent, the holiday is Americanized,” Vu said. “We don’t do everything the same.”

Traditions and practices evolve, but during this coming season, celebrants hope that people who are not partaking in the event can respect and learn about the cultures of others. “My whole life, I grew up to act white in order to fit in, but preserving my culture is important to me,” Vu said. “This holiday is a part of my cultural identity; it’s part of me. I have to balance between my white culture and my Asian culture. I think Chinese New Year brings that balance to my identity.”

by Grace Weber

Published January 27th, 2020

Oshkosh West Index Volume 116 Issue 4