Lunar New Year 2022: What the holiday means, and how to celebrate in Charlotte
Feb. 1 signals the start of the 2022 Lunar New Year, one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean communities.
The event, which is usually celebrated for multiple days, started as a time for feasting and to honor heavenly deities and ancestors. It typically begins during the second new moon after the winter solstice, and it falls on different days every year.
Year of the Tiger
Each year in the lunar calendar is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals – the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
Five elements – earth, water, fire, wood and metal – are also mapped onto the traditional lunar calendar. Each year is associated with an animal that corresponds to an element.
2022 is the year of the tiger, which represents strength, courage and bravery. Those born in the tiger years, according to the zodiac system, are said to be brave, passionate and eager to take on challenges – but sometimes rebellious, overconfident and stubborn.
How do people celebrate Lunar New Year?
Food, family and fellowship play a significant role in celebrations, but each culture commemorates Lunar New Year differently.
Families often gather to prepare and eat large feasts together. Fish, which has the same pronunciation as the word for “surplus” in Chinese, and longevity noodles, which symbolize hope for a new life, are common dishes served during the holiday.
Many people wear red and gold – colors that signify good fortune – and hang up colorful decorations. Fireworks, which are believed to drive away bad luck and spirits, are also common, along with parades, floats and costumes of lions and dragons.
Houses are also thoroughly cleaned, in an effort to fend off spirits that may have appeared during the previous year, and to open space meant for good luck.
Where to celebrate Lunar New Year in the Charlotte area
Resident Culture Brewing Co. is hosting a two-day Lunar New Year celebration on Feb. 5-6 at their Plaza Midwood and South End locations. The events will feature a traditional lion dance performance from Hung Gar Kung Fu Academy.
Feb. 5 will also be the grand opening of The Dumpling Lady’s permanent food truck residency at Resident Culture’s Plaza Midwood taproom and brewery.
Here are a few other Lunar Year Events in Charlotte:
- Families are invited to celebrate Lunar New Year next to a roaring fire under the stars at Stevens Creek Nature Preserve, 15700 Thompson Rd., on Feb. 1 from 7-8:30 p.m.
- Devil’s Logic Brewing, 1426 E. 4th St., is hosting a Chinese New Year celebration on Feb. 5 from 2-7 p.m. The celebration will include Chinese Dragon dancers, firecrackers and Asian-inspired cuisine.
- Three Stripes Lion Dance, a team of lion dancers with more than a decade of experience, has performances in Charlotte scheduled from Feb. 4-5. Check out where they’ll be on Facebook.
This story was originally published February 1, 2022 at 5:52 PM.
