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Taiwanese New Year
Taiwanese Lunar New Year or Kuè-nî (Chinese: 臺灣農曆新年; pinyin: Táiwān Nónglì Xīnnián; lit. 'Taiwanese Agricultural Calendar New Year') is a Taiwanese traditional festival and national holiday commemorating the first day of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. It shares historical and cultural origins with Chinese New Year, and it has developed unique customs, terminology, and regional practices that reflect Taiwan's unique cultural diversity and identity.[1] TerminologyIn Taiwan, the festival is most commonly referred to as 農曆新年 (Nónglì Xīnnián) or 過年 (Gùonián), meaning Agricultural Calendar New Year, emphasizing its basis in the agricultural lunar calendar.[2] The term 春節 (Chūnjié), or Spring Festival, is not usually used as it is more commonly associated with celebrations in China.[3] Taiwanese usage often highlights the festival's agricultural and traditional significance rather than its association with the spring season.[4] Customs and traditionsWhile sharing common roots with Chinese New Year, the festival in Taiwan reflects the island's distinct social and cultural landscape.[5] For example, Taiwan emphasizes religious rituals and temple visits, blending Taoist and Buddhist influences. Taiwan also incorporates elements from indigenous cultures, particularly in rural areas in the eastern part of Taiwan, adding a layer of diversity to the holiday. The festival in Taiwan often reflects the nation’s distinct cultural identity, which continued to diverge after its separation from mainland China in 1949.[6] Taiwanese New Year serves as both a time for family reunions and a reaffirmation of cultural heritage. It highlights Taiwan’s rich blend of Han Chinese customs, indigenous influences, and modern adaptations.[7] Taiwanese New Year celebrations incorporate a mix of Han Chinese traditions and local Taiwanese practices. Preparations Before the New YearIn Taiwan, preparations for the Lunar New Year are extensive, beginning with a thorough "annual cleaning" of homes to sweep away bad luck and prepare for the coming year. This is a symbolic act to purify the household and ensure prosperity. In Taiwan, the tradition is to worship the Earth God on the 16th day of the twelfth month, and companies hold year-end parties on this day. With time, companies have adjusted the date of these parties to fit practical needs, sometimes even replacing them with spring banquets after the holiday. In China, influenced by the Cultural Revolution, the 16th of the twelfth month was changed to ancestor worship.[8] A significant event before the New Year is the "seeing off the gods" ritual, held on the 24th day of the lunar month. During this time, offerings are made to the gods, bidding them farewell as they return to the heavens for their annual vacation. This departure sets the stage for the festive period, where the gods are believed to vacate their earthly duties. New Year’s Eve CelebrationsTaiwanese families gather for a large "reunion dinner" on New Year’s Eve, similar to the family reunions seen in China. The meal is imbued with symbolic foods that represent various blessings for the coming year. Common dishes include fish for abundance, tangerines for good fortune, and dumplings for prosperity. The reunion dinner is also a time for giving red envelopes, known as hóngbāo, containing money that is given to children and younger family members for good luck. This tradition differs slightly in Taiwan, where adults also present red envelopes to their parents as a sign of respect and gratitude. For the reunion dinner, Taiwanese families often prioritize local delicacies, such as pineapple cakes (鳳梨酥), Kuihs (粿), mochis (麻糬), and mustard green vegetable (長年菜)[9], symbolizing prosperity, good fortune, and longevity[10], respectively.[11] While large fireworks displays are popular in some places, Taiwan tends to focus more on temple visits, lantern-lighting ceremonies, and family reunions. Post-dinner activities typically include playing games, watching television, and spending time with family until after midnight. It is believed that staying awake late on New Year's Eve will preserve the longevity of one’s parents.[12] Lunar New Year Day and the Following DaysOn the first day of the new year, people visit friends and family to offer well wishes for the year ahead. Many also go to temples, making it a crowded time in religious sites. A notable difference from the Chinese tradition is that Taiwanese married daughters traditionally spend the first day with their husband’s family, returning to their own families on the second day.[13] This practice emphasizes the role of the husband’s family in the Taiwanese culture, as married daughters are considered part of their husband’s household. The third day of the New Year is a quieter time, with many people resting before the "welcome-back" rituals for the gods, which take place on the fourth day. By the fifth day, people return to work, and normal life resumes.[14] Contrary to China, where businesses usually re-open on the sixteenth day of the Chinese New Year, in Taiwan, businesses traditionally re-open on the sixth day of the Taiwanese New Year.[15] In the morning of the ninth day (traditionally anytime between midnight and 7 am), Taiwanese households set up an altar table with three layers: one top (containing offertories of six vegetables (Chinese: 六齋; pinyin: liù zhāi; those being noodles, fruits, cakes, tangyuan, vegetable bowls, and unripe betel), all decorated with paper lanterns) and two lower levels (five sacrifices and wines) to honour the deities below the Jade Emperor.The household then kneels three times and kowtows nine times to pay obeisance and wish him a long life. Incense, tea, fruit, vegetarian food or roast pig, and gold paper are served as customary protocol for paying respect to an honored person. In Taiwan in the 2000s, some employers also gave red packets as a bonus to maids, nurses or domestic workers from Southeast Asian countries, although whether this is appropriate is controversial.[16][17] Traditions and Modern AdaptationsTaiwanese Lunar New Year celebrations are marked by a mix of time-honored rituals and modern conveniences. While traditional practices like offering sacrifices to the gods and enjoying symbolic foods remain central to the festivities, modern-day elements such as shopping, traveling, and electronic red envelope exchanges have emerged. In contrast to Chinese New Year celebrations, which tend to be more elaborate and centered on large-scale public events, Taiwanese New Year celebrations often focus on intimate family gatherings, with a strong emphasis on respect for elders and preserving familial harmony. Overall, the Taiwanese Lunar New Year is a blend of ancient customs and modern-day celebrations, offering a unique experience that highlights the country's rich cultural heritage. While similar in some ways to the Chinese New Year, Taiwan’s celebration has a distinct charm that reflects its national values and traditions.[18] Travel rushIn Taiwan, spring travel is a significant event known as the Lunar New Year travel rush. The primary mode of transportation in western Taiwan is oriented in a north-south direction, facilitating long-distance travel between the urbanized north and rural hometowns in the south. However, transportation in eastern Taiwan and between Taiwan and its outlying islands is less convenient. Cross-strait flights between Taiwan and China commenced in 2003 as part of the Three Links initiative, primarily catering to "Taiwanese businessmen" returning to Taiwan for the new year.[19][20][21] References
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