Twitter updates

[frandroid]

• 11:08 Note from the cultural sensitivity dept.: It's the LUNAR New Year; not just the Chinese celebrate it. #
• 11:21 www.lesentreprisesfrancoisvilleneuve.com/ #
• 13:19 Word of the Day: Sinosphere en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinosphere #
• 15:03 Westcoasters complaining about snow are soooooo cute! :) #

(posted with loudtwitter)

Comments

[drinzy.livejournal.com]

It is Chinese New Year, it's observed by surrounding countries because of China's influence on their cultures. In previous centuries students from Vietnam, Korea, and Japan were sent to China to learn things like written language, astronomy, etc. to bring back to their countries. Vietnamese and Cantonese are in fact sibling languages in the Yue family. Yue being a river in southern China. Vietnam is Yuetnam in Cantonese and both mean 'South of the Yue'. The Vietnamese people used to be residents of southern China, as did the Thai, before being displaced by the Han majority.

There are other groups using a lunar calendar as well who do not celebrate their new years when the Chinese do.

It would be more accurate to call it Chinese New Year due to its origins than it would be to call it Lunar New Year since it just happens to be based on the moon.