YEAR OF THE WOOD DRAGON
WHERE
DURATION
HOW TO CELEBRATE
Year of the Wood Dragon
Lunar New Year signifies the change in the zodiac represented by one of twelve animals. Each zodiac is paired with an element. The animal and element pairings represent personality traits and connections to the universe.
2024 represents the Year of the Wood Dragon, bringing a unique blend of characteristics from the dragon and the attributes of wood. Wood represents vitality, creativity, steadiness, honesty, generosity, and calmness. The dragon represents power, wealth, success, intelligence, and honor.
The Year of the Wood Dragon is believed to bring favorable conditions for change. 2024 will be a great time for rejuvenating beginnings and setting the foundation for long-term success.
Where
Celebrated by many Asian communities, Lunar New Year is popularly referred to as Vietnamese Tet, Chinese Chunjie, Korean Solnal, Tibetan osar and the Spring Festival. It’s recognized in countries including China, The Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, North Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Brunei, and many more people worldwide.
Though many countries commemorate Lunar New Year, each celebrates in their own way, making it a unique but commonly shared holiday.
Lunar New Year is a festival celebrated by over a quarter of the world’s population.
Ancient Legends and Traditions
Many elements of the New Year festivities are steeped in ancient legends and traditions that vary from place to place.
China
In China, regional traditions around the New Year vary. The evening preceding New Year’s Day is frequently regarded as an occasion for families to gather for the annual reunion dinner.
It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean their house, sweeping away any ill-fortune to make way for incoming good luck.
Other customs include lighting firecrackers, giving money in red paper envelopes and decorating windows and doors with red paper-cuts and couplets.
Popular themes among the paper-cuts and couplets include good fortune or happiness, wealth and longevity.
Korea
In Korea, people are served rice cake soup (tteokguk) specifically at this time of the year so they can grow a year older. Many Lunar New Year traditions are symbolic of warding off bad luck and making way for good luck and fortune for the coming year.
Vietnam
Vietnam decorates with pink peach blossoms and the five-petaled apricot flower to symbolize happiness, good health/longevity, wealth, peace, pleasure and convenience.
Duration
Feb. 9
NEW YEAR’S EVE
(除夕 Chúxì)
12th month, 30th day
除夕 (Chúxì)
The most important celebration, includes the family reunion dinner and staying up until midnight.
Feb. 10
NEW YEAR’S DAY
初一 (Chūyī)
1st month, 1st day
初一 (Chūyī)
A day for visiting/greeting family and relatives, giving presents and visiting ancestors’ graves.
Feb. 24
LANTERN FESTIVAL
(元宵节 Yuánxiāojié)
1st month, 15th day
初十五 (Chūshíwǔ)
Marks the end of the festival. Lanterns are lit and hung or flown, people watch dragon dances in the streets and children answer lantern riddles.
“My favorite part of the Lunar New Year celebration is family gathering with New Year games and carrying on the tradition with the younger generation.”
Joe Nguyen
Corporate IT
“It’s one of the largest and most important holidays for Chinese Vietnamese people (I am both). Families and friends reunite to celebrate, give red envelopes of money, play games, and join in a big feast. It is also a time to reflect on the year and wish good health and prosperity for the new year. A tradition we have is making dumplings together as this is labor intensive but is great quality time together, and also, the dumpling represents wealth and prosperity.”
Lisa Huynh
Corporate Tax
“The East Asian New Year in Vietnam is possibly the most important event of the year, certainly the loudest, and the celebrations can go on for a week or longer. I associate the festival with bustling street-markets, auspicious red and yellow, lion dances held to vigorous drumming, visiting of friends and family to exchange gifts and wishes for a new year of health and prosperity, and delicious food. Here in Oregon, my family likes to decorate the house with flowers and cook the traditional dishes. My favorite is pork and boiled eggs braised in coconut juice.”
Giayen Nguyen
Senior Design Engineer
How to Celebrate in the Workplace
There are various ways to celebrate and acknowledge the Lunar New Year. However, understanding its cultural background, significance and history is key to engaging employees and making connections while reinforcing an inclusive workplace culture.
1. Greet Colleagues
Greetings and blessings are a crucial part of Lunar New Year celebrations and acknowledgments. With proper greetings, you can set the tone and intentions for the new year.
2. Cultural Learning
Learn more about the Lunar New Year. Acknowledging and learning about cultural holidays is an important step in developing an inclusive and welcoming work environment and connecting with colleagues who celebrate.
3. Decorate Your Workspace
Take part in Lunar New Year festivities with decorations. Red lanterns are a traditional piece in celebrating the new year, driving away bad luck.
4. Gift Flowers
Flowers are an important symbol for Lunar New Year celebrations. Each flower represents different characteristics that prepare individuals for the year ahead.
- Kumquat Tree–good luck and wealth
- Plum Blossoms–courage, endurance, reliability, perseverance, and hope
- Chrysanthemum–luck, wealth and longevity
- Peonies–peace, wealth, prosperity and honor
- Orchids–good fortune
- Peach Blossoms–longevity and growth
5. Share Red Envelopes
One of the most popular traditions of the Lunar New Year is sharing red envelopes. Red envelopes with money are often shared with family and friends to bring luck, happiness and good fortune in the new year.
6. Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning is a very common tradition leading up to Lunar New Year. Taking place on the 28th of the last month of the year, spring cleaning drives away bad luck before the start of a new year.
