February 1, 2022, marks Lunar New Year, sometimes referred to as Chinese New Year or the start of Spring Festival. Many countries in Asia, including China, South Korea and Vietnam, traditionally follow the lunar calendar, whereas the United States follows a solar one. Solar calendars are based on the earth’s passage around the sun; the lunar calendar bases its timings off the different phases of the moon. Lunar New Year marks the day of the first new moon after the sun enters the 11th sign of the solar zodiac, or the second new moon after the winter solstice. The holiday began as a time for feasting and to honor household and heavenly deities, as well as ancestors.
For the past 2,000 years, every new year has marked the introduction of another new animal from the Chinese zodiac and its attributes. There are 12 animals in all: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
2022 will be the year of the Tiger. Those born in the year of the Tiger - 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 and 2022. It means people born these years share the tiger’s characteristics. These are:
Check out these events to celebrate Lunar New Year in the Seattle area!
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