Celebrate Lunar New Year with us as we welcome the Year of the Ox!
Lunar New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar, marking the transition between zodiac signs. Each year is associated with one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, with 2021 being the Year of the Ox! We're sad that we can't celebrate this year on-campus as we normally would, but we've still pulled together some resources from students here at Herts, as well as some fun external activities you can get involved with.
When is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year is the most important of the Chinese holidays. Over a billion people in China and millions around the world celebrate it. The holiday coincides with the date of the first new moon of the lunar calendar, ending on the first full moon. This is why the dates of Lunar New Year vary slightly year to year! This year it all begins on Friday 12th February and concludes on Friday 26th February
Traditional Lunar New Year celebrations
Countries in Asia that celebrate Lunar New Year include China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. It’s also celebrated in Chinatowns and Asian homes around the world. It’s considered a time to honour deities & ancestors and to be with family. Dances and fireworks are prevalent throughout the holidays, culminating in the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated on the last day of the New Year's celebrations. On this night colourful lanterns light up houses and traditional foods are enjoyed. Festival celebrations also include parades and lion & dragon dances. You can read more about the holiday here
The Year of the Ox
The Ox is the second of all zodiac animals. In Chinese culture the Ox is a valued animal. Because of its role in agriculture, positive characteristics are attributed to it, like being hardworking and honest
Oxen are the hard workers in the background, intelligent and reliable, but never demanding praise
You can find out more about the Ox here
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