Fireworks, firecrackers, envelopes full of money, and the color red. All these elements are associated with the Lunar New Year, which is celebrated across the world by many countries and diasporas, including many Eastern Asian communities.
However, if we do a little more research, we’ll find that January 29th, 2025, isn’t in fact Lunar New Year at all. It is the day in which the new year for the lunisolar calendar is celebrated. In countries that use the actual lunar calendar, including many Islamic nations, will be celebrating their new years on the 25th or 26th of June, 2025.
So what should we call this holiday? Most of the Eastern Asian countries that observe this holiday have derived their calendars from the Chinese lunisolar calendar, but they have managed to add aspects of their own culture to the holiday.
In recent years, many have moved away from the specifics of calling this holiday “Chinese New Year” or “Korean New Year.” Although it is a well-meaning decision, which has certainly fostered more inclusion, it feels less well-informed than it could have been. With many now calling the Lunisolar New Year “Lunar New Year,” we risk lumping together other cultures with completely different practices and holiday dates.
So when we celebrate this holiday in our own homes, perhaps we could give a few minutes of thought to what this holiday should really be named, and not just slamming on a name on the basis of lackluster research.
