Lunar New 12 months, also called Chinese language New 12 months or Spring Pageant, is without doubt one of the most vital cultural celebrations in lots of East and Southeast Asian communities. Embedded in centuries-old traditions, the vacation marks the start of a brand new yr based mostly on the lunar calendar, which follows the cycles of the moon fairly than the photo voltaic calendar utilized in most Western nations. Lunar New 12 months usually falls between late January and mid-February, with celebrations lasting as much as 15 days.
The vacation is a time for renewal, reflection, and reconnection – a contemporary begin to honour ancestors, cherish family members, and categorical hopes for well being, prosperity, and happiness. Properties are cleaned to comb away unhealthy luck, whereas pink lanterns and paper cut-outs symbolising luck adorn partitions and doorways.
“Lunar New 12 months is a time for households to return collectively and mirror on the yr previous. Wishing everybody a affluent and wholesome 12 months of the Snake! Gong Xi Fa Cai!”, stated Prahlad Ho, Chief Medical Officer, Northern Well being.
Terry Kok, Director of Imaging Providers, shared, “The Lunar New 12 months celebration marks the beginning of a brand new yr within the lunisolar calendar and is a really busy time, related to many customs and traditions. For me, it’s about spending high quality time with my household, each close to and much, having fun with our reunion dinner and wishing one another a number of luck and prosperity for the yr forward!”
Thi Nguyen, Director of Operations, Medication and Most cancers Providers, stated, “I might say Lunar New 12 months is a deeply significant cultural celebration and expertise that connects individuals to their roots, their households and their hopes for the long run. I wish to want all our workers at Northern Well being celebrating a New 12 months full of happiness, prosperity, good well being and valuable moments together with your family members.”
In 2025, the Lunar New 12 months begins on 29 January and ushers within the 12 months of the Snake. In Chinese language tradition, the snake is a logo of knowledge, instinct, and transformation. Folks born within the 12 months of the Snake are sometimes considered resourceful, decided, and insightful. This yr’s celebration will deal with embracing the traits of the snake to navigate challenges and embrace alternatives for progress.
“Identified for knowledge, creativity, and appeal, the snake additionally teaches us the ability of resilience in life’s challenges. Just like the snake’s skill to adapt and overcome, might we discover energy in adversity, intelligence in our choices, and instinct to information our paths. Let this yr be a celebration of progress, braveness, and the enjoyment of overcoming collectively. Blissful Lunar New 12 months!” stated Luyuan Chen, Mandarin Interpreter and Translator, Transcultural and Language Providers (TALS), Northern Well being.
Lunar New 12 months is well known with a wide range of joyful traditions. Households come collectively to take pleasure in festive meals that includes symbolic meals like dumplings, fish, and rice muffins. Crimson envelopes, or “hongbao,” full of cash are exchanged as a gesture of fine luck. Fireworks and lion dances deliver pleasure to the festivities, whereas conventional rituals honour ancestors and deities. Throughout the globe, communities have fun this event with parades, cultural performances, and public gatherings, showcasing the wealthy variety of this cherished vacation.
For Yan Qin, Mandarin Interpreter and Translator at Northern Well being, Lunar New 12 months holds cherished childhood reminiscences, “Lunar New 12 months is a particular time for households to return collectively. I bear in mind waking up as a baby to snow exterior, discovering a pink envelope beneath my pillow, placing on new garments, and dashing out to play. Serving to to embellish for Lunar New 12 months at Northern Well being introduced again that pleasure of welcoming the New 12 months. Wishing everybody the easiest for the 12 months of the Snake!”
At Northern Well being, a show has been arrange within the entrance lobby of the Northern Hospital with the contribution of Chinese language artist Mr Jihua Wu. Born in Shanghai, China, in November 1933, Mr Wu was a senior engineer in China earlier than his retirement.
He got here to Australia in 1998 and joined the North Japanese Melbourne Chinese language Affiliation (NEMCA). He’s at the moment the Vice President of NEMCA and the Secretary-Normal of the Australia-China Calligraphy and Portray Artwork Analysis Centre. He has been voluntarily engaged within the examine, analysis, and instructing of Chinese language calligraphy for 28 years.
In April 2002, his work gained a silver medal on the sixth Worldwide Calligraphy and Portray Aesthetic Competitors.
Mr Jihua was launched to Northern Well being by way of his daughter Holly Qianhui Wu, who has been a Shopper Advisor for Northern Well being since 2023.
Holly shared, “I imagine that our public well being system is the spine of individuals’s welfare, and it might profit from partnering with shoppers. My main involvement is as a member of the Sub-Acute Division High quality & Danger Administration Committee. By way of the month-to-month committee conferences, I achieve worthwhile insights into the operations of this division. My final aim of sitting on this committee is to assist get rid of the dangers and incidents affecting public well being shoppers via prevention, in addition to to enhance general administration. By the best way, I used to be born within the yr of the snake.”
Pictured in featured picture (L-R): Ms Holly Qianhui Wu, Yue Hu, Director, TALS and NWG ASU, Mr Jihua Wu, David Le, TALS Supervisor, and Stefania Zen, Schooling and Engagement Supervisor, TALS and NWG ASU.