Before I let you get your copy and paste on, you should know that the Lunar New Year is a holiday celebrated by most Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, Korea, and Tibet, says Nancy Yao Maasbach, president of the Museum of Chinese in America in New York City. "Lunar new year is really the broader and accurate description of the celebration of the new year based on the lunar calendar," says Nancy. And when you hear someone refer to it as the Chinese New Year, they're likely talking about China's Lunar New Year traditions, not a separate occasion.
"The reason why it's popularized as the Chinese New Year is probably because of the over the top way it's celebrated by Chinese communities all over and also because the population of Chinese Americans in the [United States] is the largest of any other Asian American group," explains Nancy.
For these groups, the days leading up to the Lunar New Year celebrations are filled with reflection, decluttering, and setting things up before the new year starts. "A big meal of lucky food is prepared and eaten with family and friends. Older adults and married couples pass out red envelopes filled with money to everyone they know and people wish for good health, wealth, and prosperity," she explains. According to Nancy, these envelopes are filled with amounts of money only reflecting "lucky" numbers like six or eight. This is just one of many traditions that take place during this time. Make no mistake, this is not just a one-day event, "15 days of festivities take place to ring in the new lunar year," says Nancy.
One of the coolest parts of the Chinese Lunar New Year festivities is the prediction of the year to come by the Chinese Zodiac, encompassing 12 animal signs that indicate the traits of an entire year and those born within that year. We are currently in the year of the rat, which has been a wild and not so fun ride. This upcoming year, we move into the ox as of Febraury 12. "According to Chinese tradition, the ox is known to be reliable, strong, and hardworking," says Nancy.
Because we're in a pandemic, normal festivities are on hold. And although this year's celebration will look a little different, you can still celebrate—especially on Instagram. This brings me back to the reason we've gathered here today: I've compiled low-key genius, high-key cute caption ideas for your Lunar New Year Instagram posts. Most of them are in line with the vibes of the Chinese Lunar New Year traditions, like wishes for happiness, good health, more wealth, and overflowing prosperity. Now get in on this caption action!
Chinese Lunar New Year Instagram captions for sending good vibes
- Big. Ox. Energy.
- May your longevity noodles be long, your dumplings be lucky, and your red envelopes abundant as hell.
- This is how we Spring Festival!
- Happy Lunar Zoom Year!
- Manifesting health, wealth, and happiness like...
- Lucky foods only.
Chinese Lunar New Year Instagram captions: Popular Chinese proverbs and quotes by Chinese philosophers
- The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. -Chinese proverb
- "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." -Chinese Proverb
- "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." -Confucius
- "Do not be afraid of moving slowly. Be afraid of standing still." -Chinese Proverb
- "If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place." -Lao Tzu
- "When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills." -Chinese Proverb
- "Before preparing to improve the world, first look around your own home three times." -Chinese Proverb
- "The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." -Chinese Proverb
- "Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment." -Lao Tzu
- "There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same." -Chinese Proverb
This article originally appeared on Cosmopolitan.com. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.