Celebrating Lunar New Year: A Time of Tradition, Joy, and Togetherness

As the New Year dawns, millions worldwide prepare for one of the most celebrated holidays: Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival. For our Delta team, it’s a perfect opportunity to explore the history, traditions, and festivities that unite people across cultures and continents. Whether you're familiar with the holiday or curious to learn more, there’s something magical for everyone to appreciate, and maybe even adopt as part of your own celebration!

A Brief History of Lunar New Year Lunar New Year has been celebrated for over 4,000 years, originating in ancient China during the Shang Dynasty. Rooted in the lunar calendar, the date of the New Year changes annually, typically falling between January 21 and February 20. According to legend, the holiday began as a way to ward off a mythical beast called Nian, who terrorized villages until they discovered its fear of loud noises, bright lights, and the color red.

Fast forward to today, Lunar New Year is celebrated in countries across Asia, including China, Vietnam (Tết), Korea (Seollal), Thailand and beyond, as well as by millions in the global diaspora. Each culture brings its own unique flavor to the holiday, making it as diverse as the Delta team itself.
Traditional Beliefs and Practices At its core, Lunar New Year celebrates family, renewal, and prosperity. Key traditions include:

• Cleaning the House: Before the festivities, homes are cleaned to sweep away bad luck and welcome good fortune. Once the New Year begins, brooms and dustpans are put away to avoid sweeping away incoming luck.
• Red Everywhere: Red symbolizes good fortune and joy. Decorations like red lanterns, paper cutouts, and couplets adorn homes, while red envelopes (“hongbao” in Chinese or “lì xì” in Vietnamese) containing money are given to children and unmarried individuals as a gesture of good wishes.
• Feasting Together: Food is a central part of the celebration. Families gather to enjoy symbolic dishes like dumplings (representing wealth), fish (symbolizing abundance), and sticky rice cakes (“niangao” in Chinese or “bánh chưng” in Vietnamese), which represent unity and harmony.
• Fireworks and Lion Dances: Fireworks light up the skies to ward off evil spirits and bring in good luck, while lion and dragon dances fill the streets with energy and excitement.

Fun Facts About Lunar New Year:
1. Each year is represented by one of 12 animals from the Chinese zodiac. 2025, for instance, will be the Year of the Snake.
2. In Vietnam, the peach blossom (“hoa đào”) is a popular New Year decoration, while in Korea, traditional hanbok outfits are worn for the occasion.
3. The holiday lasts up to 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival, where families release lanterns into the sky or rivers to symbolize hopes for the future.

How We Can Celebrate Together at Delta As a global airline, we’re proud to embrace the rich cultures of our employees and customers. Here are some ways to join the Lunar New Year festivities:
1. Decorate and Dress Up: Bring a splash of red to your workspace with festive decorations. Wear something red or incorporate Lunar New Year symbols into your attire to show your festive spirit.
2. Host a Team Potluck: Plan a potluck featuring traditional dishes like dumplings, spring rolls, or rice cakes. Share the stories behind the food with your colleagues.
3. Give Back: Honor the spirit of prosperity by organizing a charity drive or volunteering to support underserved communities.
4. Learn and Share: Attend a cultural workshop, watch a lion dance performance, or simply chat with colleagues who celebrate Lunar New Year to learn about their unique traditions.
5. Virtual Celebrations: If your team is remote, host a virtual trivia session about Lunar New Year or organize a virtual cooking class to make traditional dishes.

Closing Thoughts Lunar New Year is more than just a holiday; it’s a vibrant celebration of family, renewal, and hope. As Delta employees, we can take inspiration from this tradition to foster connections, embrace diversity, and build a sense of unity that transcends cultures. Whether you’re joining a lion dance, savoring dumplings, or simply wishing someone a prosperous year, let’s celebrate together and make this Lunar New Year unforgettable.

Gōngxī fācái! (Happy New Year!)

About the Author (Editorial Team)

Delta Thailand

Share