China, Korea, Vietnam and beyond · the date moves each year

Lunar New Year

The second new moon after the winter solstice — the largest annual human migration on earth.

What happened

The date moves, falling between 21 January and 20 February. Each year carries one of twelve animals. Houses are cleaned before the new year so that last year's bad luck is swept out, and not swept on the day itself in case the new luck goes with it. Children are given money in red envelopes.

Why it stuck

Hundreds of millions of people travel home for it. It is the clearest example there is that a calendar can be tied to the moon rather than the sun — and that whole countries organize around that choice.

What a family can do

Clean something before, not during. Red envelopes. Find this year's animal and last year's.

Questions to work through

1. Why does the date move every year? Draw the moon to explain it.
2. Find your birth year's animal, and your parents'.
3. The house is cleaned before but not on the day. What is the reasoning? Is it a good rule?