The Dos and Don’ts of Lunar New Year

We believe in the power of a fresh start, and there's no better time for it than the Lunar New Year. With Drops, you can have fun learning a new language and build better habits as you begin your language learning journey.

The Lunar New Year is a celebration of the start of a new year on the traditional lunisolar calendar, as well as the arrival of spring. It is celebrated in many Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, and Korea, as well as in Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia. While customs may vary from country to country and household to household, there are some traditions that are shared.

Traditions To Embrace on Lunar New Year

1. DO start the new year with a bang! If you want to make sure you scare all the evil spirits away, bring your firecrackers and fireworks and let them pop as loud as possible.
2. DO release the dragon! Another way of warding off harmful spirits is the lion and the dragon dances. This powerful tradition is shared by the Chinese, Vietnamese, and Koreans and has its own dance routine and special design.
3. DO eat food for fortune! Food is always a central part of basically any kind of celebration, so don’t forget to fill your plate with dishes that are associated with good luck. In China, you might want to grab some dumplings, rice cakes, dates or fishes, but if you are in Korea, don’t miss out on rice cake soup, Korean pancakes and homemade mandu.
4. DO call your elders. Wherever you are and however you celebrate, give a call to your parents and grandparents to wish them health, happiness and joy.

Things To Avoid on Lunar New Year

• DON’T wash or cut your hair on the first day of the new year. In Chinese, the word for hair sounds similar to the phrase for "become healthy," so washing your hair is believed to wash away your good fortune.
• DON’T wear monochrome clothing, especially black or white, which are associated with death and mourning. Instead, opt for colorful clothes, particularly red and gold.
• DON’T use negative language or swear, as it is important to focus on positivity and hope during the Lunar New Year.
• DON’T use sharp objects such as scissors or knives, as they are believed to cut out good luck and good relationships.

Mark the Start of the Lunar New Year With Drops

DO Join the Lunar Luck Challenge in the Drops language learning app and bring the Lunar New Year topic progress to 100% to start your year off strong!

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Zita Palik is a Hungary based Language Content Coordinator and a 80's music maniac.

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