The Lunar New Year is a great time to reset our intentions and energy to make way for something new.
It gives us hope and love as well as luck and good health for the lunar new year. In the Vietnamese culture, this Asian holiday is also known as Tet and marks the arrival of the spring festival. 2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger which occurs every 60 years. Did you know in China, the tiger is known as the king of the jungle? The tiger is a symbol of bravery, wisdom, and strength. Sharing some traditions we did below that I enjoy doing every year!
Before the new year even started, we already got into the festive mood with Disneyland's California Adventure's Lunar New Year Festival that's currently going on until this weekend (ending Sunday 02/13/22). They have curated dishes, a wishing wall area, photo opps to take pictures with Tigger or Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse, holiday parades, and special performances.
We also got to check out South Coast Plaza's incredible Year of the Tiger exhibit which will truly amaze you! Pictures don't do it justice. You definitely have to visit this eye-catching botanical display with digital artwork before it ends on Sunday, 02/20/22. You'll want to take pictures and videos of it because there's nothing else like it around here, I guarantee it.
The night before the lunar new year, it's tradition to set food out on the table and pray to our ancestors. We enjoyed a nice homemade family dinner together to bond and you may even hear fireworks (or firecrackers) around midnight.
On the first day of the Year of the Tiger, many people go to the temple to pray, get their fortune stick, eat vegetarian food, support the temple, and make wishes for many blessings in the new year. Going to the temple every Lunar New Year has been one of my annual traditions and I'm so glad I was able to do this with both sisteroos this year! And so cute they were wearing traditional ao dai's (mine's currently in storage). My heart just fills with so much joy when we're together! These moments are always special to me.
It's also customary to visit family and "chuc Tet" (wish Happy New Year) to our parents by visiting them and saying our well wishes for them for the new year. Sometimes families may bond over cooking together. This year, I partnered with
Toyota USA to share how we celebrate the Lunar New Year in their new 2022 Hybrid Higlander SUV (super spacious and quiet!). From going to the temple, to visiting family, and then going to the market. We picked up ingredients to make these
Chinese almond cookies (recipe
here) that are shaped like coins to represent good fortune for the new year. Luck and sweetness combined? Yes please!
What are some of your Lunar New Year traditions?
This time of year is about spending quality time with family. To take a moment from our busy lives and remember what's important. Honoring and treasuring family customs to carry traditions on to the next generation.
As always, thanks for reading and sending you virtual hugs!
#YearoftheTiger #lunarnewyear #familyholiday #familytradition
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