Get Cultured - Lunar New Year 2023

In the majority of Asian cultures, the Lunar New Year of 2023 celebrates the Year of the what?I

• tiger

• rabbit

• rat

• dragon

In Vietnamese culture, the Lunar New Year for 2023 celebrates the Year of the what?

• rabbit

• buffalo

• horse

• cat

Answer explanation

Vietnam shares 10 of the Chinese zodiac calendar’s 12 signs. Instead of rabbit and the ox, the Vietnamese calendar replaces those animals with the cat and the buffalo.

How many zodiac animals are there?

(a)  

Which zodiac animal comes first?

(a)  

Which Asian culture does NOT celebrate the Lunar New Year

• North Korea

• Philippines

• Japan

• Malaysia

Answer explanation

Per Wikipedia, Japan used to celebrate the Lunar New Year until 1873. The Meiji Restoration brought the implementation of the Western calendar because many Japan elites thought that Asian practices were inferior to Western ones, and would hold Japan back unless they abandoned.

The Lunar New Year is also known as what?

• The Lantern Festival

• The Spring Festival

• The Mid Autumn Festival

• The Harvest Festival

Who is responsible for giving out the lai see/hóngbāo (red envelopes) during the Lunar New Year?

• Men (older than 18)

• Everyone/anyone

• Elders

• Family with the eldest son

Answer explanation

It is customary to wish good luck, prosperity, and wealth to your elders prior to receiving a red envelope.

When receiving a red envelope, you are to accept the red envelope with both hands.

In Chinese culture, the person that eats the most dumplings will bring in what for the New Year?

(a)  

How many days does one celebrate Chinese New Year?

• 8 days

• 28 days

• 5 days

• 15 days

What is celebrated on the last day of Chinese New Year?

• The Lantern Festival

• The Mid Autumn Festival

• The Dragon Festival

• The Spring Festival

Answer explanation

The Lantern Festival marks the first full moon of the new lunar year and the end of Chinese New Year.

On the night of the Chinese Lantern Festival, streets are decorated with colorful lanterns, often with riddles written on them.