Over a billion people around the world will be celebrating the Lunar New Year on Feb 1, 2022. The Lunar New Year coincides with the start of the New Moon cycle and is a time to honor ancestors and gather with family. Every Lunar New Year is aligned with a specific animal which represents each of the 12 years in the Chinese lunar calendar, with 2022 being the brave and courageous year of the Tiger.
Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about the Lunar New Year. Including what animal represents your birth year, how to celebrate and what to gift during this celestial celebration.
What is the Lunar New Year?
The Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations among East and Southeast Asian cultures. Typically the Lunar New Year begins when the first New Moon cycle starts around the end of January and celebrations conclude around the time of the next Full Moon. This year, the Lunar New Year begins on Feb 1st and will be celebrated over the course of the next few weeks concluding around the Full Moon on February 16th. If you haven’t already guessed, the celebration name comes from the fact that it follows the phases of the lunar cycle.
What Are the Chinese Zodiac Animals?
The Chinese zodiac features 12 different animals each corresponding to a specific year, with your birth year determining which animal you would represent in the Chinese zodiac. Each animal is represented by good luck colors, elements, and traits.
2022 is the year of the Tiger, which symbolizes strength, tenacity and boldness. For those born under the year of the Tiger, wearing fiery red, cerulean blue, imperial yellow or mint green will help to enhance your good luck and blessings in the New Year. Find out which Chinese zodiac animal you represent below:
Rat: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032
Ox: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033
Tiger: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034
Rabbit: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035
Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036
Snake: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037
Horse: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038
Sheep: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039
Monkey: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040
Rooster: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041
Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042
Pig: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043
Lunar New Year Traditions
There are a few different traditions for Lunar New Year depending on how you celebrate. One major tradition for the Lunar New Year is cleaning house, this cleanse helps to get rid of all the bad fortune from the previous year and help to start the new year off with a clean slate. A well known tradition is giving and receiving gifts, specifically red envelopes. These envelopes are usually decorated with gold detailing and filled with cash, usually gifted from older relatives.
You can also gift clothing or jewelry during this time, our Lunar New Year studs are a perfect gift to help embrace the New Year and channel the fiery Tiger energy. Wearing red during the Lunar New Year will represent happiness, vitality, good luck, success and fortune. During this time, traditional foods such as dumplings and rice cake soup are present at festivities and gatherings to symbolize new beginnings.
