What is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year is the celebration held to commemorate the New Year according to the lunisolar calendar. Several countries following this calendar will celebrate together the marking of a New Year just a few weeks/months after the Solar New Year celebration.
"A lunar year is the time it takes to complete 12 synodic months. For instance, one lunar month of 29.53 days multiplied by 12 months provides a lunar year of only 354 days. However, it takes the Earth 365.256 days to complete one revolution around the Sun, a solar year. This creates a difference of more than 11 days" (Barkers, Kelly.)
Lunar New Year runs by many different names, as each region has other correlations to their environments during this time of year. called "Chinese New Year", Lunar New Year holds a more universally welcoming title to include all who celebrate. Lunar New Year runs by many different names, as each region has other correlations to their environments during this time of year. For example, in China, it is also called 'Spring Festival' as it marks the beginning of the agricultural season there. In South Korea it is also known as Seollal (aka Korean New Year), Japan it is called, "Shōgatsu" (Japanese New Year), and in Vietnam it is famously known as "Tết Nguyên Đán" (the arrival of Spring).
What Does The United States Do?
In multicultural societies like the United States, Lunar New Year has become an occasion for cross-cultural exchange and celebration, with cities like Los Angeles and New York hosting some of the largest festivities outside of Asia. From traditional dragon dances to fusion food festivals blending Asian and Western cuisines, these celebrations showcase the diversity and dynamism of modern Lunar New Year traditions. Some States have even begun declaring Lunar New Year as a holiday: Washington now joins Colorado and California, who mark Lunar New Year as an official public holiday.
Celebration & Initiative
All festivities welcome everyone, it opens a great opportunity to understand other heritage and cultures while practicing true cultural appreciation. Cultural appropriation (even if accidental) is difficult to confront, and the best root to understanding it is taking the step of truly understanding these different communities. Even when visiting from out of the country all of these countries offer services to dress foreigners in their traditional wear for proper use when visiting temples and or celebrating festivals.
Just Saeng and Saeng Studios took the initiative to open their doors to a group of models, who would be styled in traditional garments of countries that celebrate Lunar New Year. While at this photoshoot they will interact and experience the holiday through Just Saeng's guidance. This experience ranges from learning pieces of garments, how to wear and style them, jewelry and their meanings, explanations behind mannerisms, different holiday superstitions, and of course the treats/gifts that get exchanged to friends and loved ones.
All traditional wear was brought in through Colorado-owned businesses and was captured by photographers from SaengStudios in an Asian-owned Small Business photo studio. The traditional garments featured are:
Korea-Hanbok
China-Cheongsam, Hanfu, Tang Suit
India-Saree, Kurta
Thailand-Sabai
Laos-Sinh
Philippines-Baro't Saya
Vietnam-Áo dài, Áo gấm
Spring Festival, Saeng Magazine 2024 Edition:
Photos by SaengStudios
Citations: Barkers, Kelly. “Calendar Types | Lunar, Solar & Metonic Cycles - Video.” Study.com, November 21, 2023. https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/the-lunar-calendar-metonic-cycle.html.
