Discover lunar new year traditions across China, Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia and Indonesia, from food and house cleaning to red envelopes and what each one means.

Photo by Dru Kelly on Unsplash

Lunar New Year traditions follow a simple logic: start the year with a clean home, eat foods whose names sound lucky, and pass out money in red envelopes. The holiday falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027, and it opens the Year of the Goat for families across China, Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Indonesia. The details change from place to place, but the message is consistent: leave the old year behind and invite good fortune in.

This guide covers the customs you will see most often, which are house cleaning, food, and red envelopes. For each one, we explain what it means and where it comes from. Japan is left out on purpose because it has its own calendar customs. For that version, read our Japanese New Year traditions guide. If you are curious about other winter celebrations, our winter solstice traditions guide explains how many cultures marked the darkest days of the year.

Why people clean the house before Lunar New Year

Sweeping is the most visible custom. Britannica explains that families clean thoroughly to sweep out the old year's bad luck, traditionally around the 24th day of the last lunar month. The idea is simple: misfortune leaves through the door before the new year arrives.

The wordplay makes it memorable. In Chinese, the word for dust sounds like the word for old, so clearing dust means clearing away the past year, according to China Highlights.

Why you should wait to sweep

Sweeping on New Year's Day is traditionally avoided, because you risk sweeping away the good luck you are hoping to welcome. Britannica advises against cleaning on New Year's Day for this reason.

What families usually do before the holiday

• Deep-clean the home in the days before the holiday, so the new year starts fresh.
• Settle debts and finish unfinished business, a custom also noted in Taiwan.
• Buy new clothes for the holiday, as many people do during imlek in Indonesia.
• Avoid haircuts and breaking dishes in the first days of the year, since both can be read as bad omens.

Food with a lucky twist

Lunar New Year menus are built around food names that sound like good wishes. The best-known example is fish. According to Britannica, the Chinese word for fish sounds like the word for surplus, which signals abundance in the year ahead. Fish usually appears as a centerpiece of the holiday table.

Korea: rice cake soup

In Korea, the holiday is called Seollal and typically lasts two to three days. The signature dish is tteokguk, a soup made with sliced rice cakes. History.com says the soup symbolizes starting the year with a clean mind and body, which is why it is served at the start of the celebration.

Vietnam: banh chung

In Vietnam, Tết brings banh chung, a square cake of glutinous rice wrapped in banana leaves and filled with mung beans and pork. Families prepare it in the weeks before the holiday, and its square shape is said to represent the earth.

China: dumplings

In much of northern China, dumplings are the centerpiece of the holiday meal. Families often make them together, turning food prep into a shared task that starts the year as a team.

Red envelopes: money with a message

Red envelopes are the most recognizable custom. National Geographic Education notes that they are traditionally given to children and unmarried adults. Red is linked with luck and joy in Chinese culture, so the envelope doubles as a good-luck gift.

The name changes by language:

Language	Name	Where you will hear it
Mandarin	hongbao	China
Cantonese	lai see	Hong Kong and Guangdong
Vietnamese	lì xì	Vietnam

Korea does things differently. Instead of red, elders give New Year's money in white and patterned envelopes, according to History.com. It is a useful reminder that red is not universal across the region.

Mongolia and Southeast Asia

Mongolia celebrates Tsagaan Sar, a name that translates to White Moon. According to Nopality Magazine, the white theme stands for purity as the new year begins.

In Indonesia, imlek celebrations include visiting temples and washing the statues of deities, alongside buying new clothes. Nopality also covers these practices, which show how the holiday blends with local religious life.

Taiwan adds a practical twist. Folk custom holds that debts should be settled before the new year begins, so the year starts with a clean financial slate.

A naming debate you will hear about

Many people still ask why it is called Lunar New Year and not Chinese New Year. The name is contested. Some prefer Lunar New Year because the holiday is celebrated across many cultures. Others keep Chinese New Year because the calendar and many customs trace back to China. Commentators are still debating the term, so both names appear in news coverage.

Official recognition is also growing. In December 2024, UNESCO added China's Spring Festival to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, according to Chinese state media.

Frequently asked questions

When is Lunar New Year 2027?

Lunar New Year 2027 falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027. It marks the start of the Year of the Goat.

Why do people clean before Lunar New Year?

Cleaning sweeps out the bad luck of the old year. The dust-and-old wordplay in Chinese reinforces the idea of leaving the past behind.

Is it bad luck to clean on New Year's Day?

Many families avoid it. Britannica advises against cleaning on New Year's Day, since you could sweep away the good luck you hope to bring in.

Do all countries use red envelopes?

No. Red envelopes are common in China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, but Korea uses white and patterned envelopes for New Year's money given by elders.

Takeaway

Lunar New Year traditions are about renewal. Clean the house, share a meal with lucky foods, and pass on a red envelope if you are giving. Pick one custom to try this year and learn its story. It is the quickest way to feel what the holiday means.