Is this year the Lunar New Year?

[DodgerGirl]

I keep seeing a lot of commercials advertising Lunar New Year as Chinese New Year this year and I wonder what the big deal is? Because it seems that every place is promoting Lunar New Year and even ShopDisney is selling Lunar New Year Nui-Mos outfits and Mickey and Minnie plushies dressed in Lunar New Year outfits as well. I also know this year is The Year Of The Rabbit and I would love to know more about Lunar New Year

 

[White Cat]

Take a trip to Yorkdale Mall in Toronto sometime. Lunar New Year is celebrated more than Christmas.

 

[Karin1984]

It is a way to be inclusive and make more money at the same time for Disney.

Different cultures have different calendars. You can read more about some basics here: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60153348

 

[ronandannette]

It is a way to be inclusive and make more money at the same time for Disney.

Different cultures have different calendars. You can read more about some basics here: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60153348

In the remote rural area I grew up in, it was unheard of. But I moved to a big city 35 years ago and it was pretty diverse, even back then. "Chinese New Year" was definitely a cultural thing, with many community celebrations and activities. Over the years it seems to have become much more prominent for retail marketing purposes and has started, just in the fairly recent past, to be known as Lunar New Year instead. Right now, the seasonal merchandise section for it in the local WalMarts is bigger than the Valentines Day.

@RedAngie -Gung Hey Fat Choy!! Back in the very early 90's, as a much younger but equally enthusiastic hostess, I threw a goofy Chinese New Year party where everybody had to dress in costume as their "astrological animal" and I took a stab at homemade Chinese food. That's where my ancient bottle of 5-Spice came from.

 

[mom2rtk]

Disney has been celebrating Lunar New Year in the parks for some time.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Any excuse for fireworks is a good excuse for me. Happy Chinese New Year!!!!

 

[RedAngie]

@RedAngie -Gung Hey Fat Choy!! Back in the very early 90's, as a much younger but equally enthusiastic hostess, I threw a goofy Chinese New Year party where everybody had to dress in costume as their "astrological animal" and I took a stab at homemade Chinese food. That's where my ancient bottle of 5-Spice came from.

I had to look up my animal. I was born during the Year of the Ox. My costume back in the early 90s may have looked like this.



During the early months of covid I cleaned out my old spices and got rid of the 15 year old jar of Chinese 5 spice seasoning. It was kind of caked up.

 

[ronandannette]

I had to look up my animal. I was born during the Year of the Ox. My costume back in the early 90s may have looked like this.

View attachment 733933

During the early months of covid I cleaned out my old spices and got rid of the 15 year old jar of Chinese 5 spice seasoning. It was kind of caked up.

You would have rocked it!! Way sexier than mine...

 

[starry_solo]

Every year is Lunar (Chinese) New Year!

Happy Year of the Rabbit!

Which rabbit do you prefer? Judy Hopps

 

[starry_solo]

Thumper?

or Oswald?

 

[georgina]

I'm partial to the killer rabbit of Caerbannog - vicious streak a mile wide! (Monty Python)

Anyone remember the old Kellogg's Frosted Flakes commercial - 'this is the year of the tiger, so have breakfast with the tiger of the year'? I was born in a year of the tiger, water tiger apparently.

 

[bcla]

@RedAngie -Gung Hey Fat Choy!! Back in the very early 90's, as a much younger but equally enthusiastic hostess, I threw a goofy Chinese New Year party where everybody had to dress in costume as their "astrological animal" and I took a stab at homemade Chinese food. That's where my ancient bottle of 5-Spice came from.

That's Cantonese, which represents a tiny fraction (maybe around 6%) of ethnic Chinese around the world. In Mandarin it's closer to "gong shi fa tsai". But Cantonese traditionally been the largest group of emigrants from China - especially from the Taishan region of Guangdong Province. But now I'd think the majority of ethnic Chinese immigrants and their families are native Mandarin speakers. Mandarin is the primary dialect of Chinese speakers in Taiwan, Singapore, and other areas of Asia outside of the PRC. And Mandarin is becoming the dominant dialect because the Chinese government is more or less enforcing its use - even in areas where Cantonese is traditional.

 

[starry_solo]

That's Cantonese, which represents a tiny fraction (maybe around 6%) of ethnic Chinese around the world. In Mandarin it's closer to "gong shi fa tsai". But Cantonese traditionally been the largest group of emigrants from China - especially from the Taishan region of Guangdong Province. But now I'd think the majority of ethnic Chinese immigrants and their families are native Mandarin speakers. Mandarin is the primary dialect of Chinese speakers in Taiwan, Singapore, and other areas of Asia outside of the PRC. And Mandarin is becoming the dominant dialect because the Chinese government is more or less enforcing its use - even in areas where Cantonese is traditional.

I thought Mandarin was Xin Nian Kuai Le

 

[bcla]

I thought Mandarin was Xin Nian Kuai Le

That’s more “Happy new year”. Or literally “new year fast coming”.

“Gong shi fa tsai” is closer to “wish you make wealth”. Of course phrases don’t necessarily translate well word for word. Expressions like this often have to be loosely translated. It’s really about wishing wealth and prosperity.

“Fa tsai” literally means “make wealth”, but it’s one of those weird things. That word “fa” sounds similar to the word for “eight” (“ba”), so much that eight is a preferred number. I saw something for sale at Costco, and the price ended in 88 cents.