China: Watching a Chinese Lion Dance 

Nothing says Lunar New Year in China quite like the spectacle of watching a traditional Lion Dance. Believed to invite prosperity and good luck while warding away malicious spirits, the Lion Dance combines Chinese Kung Fu with acrobatics and live music.  

Hidden beneath an intricate and colourful lion costume, two performers move in perfect harmony. One manipulates the lion’s front limbs and head, with expressive blinks and jaw snaps, while the other controls its hindquarters. The mythical lion then comes to life as it prances and leaps to the lively beat of gongs, drums and cymbals. The audience is encouraged to participate by feeding the lion with oranges and red envelopes of money, which the beast happily “gobbles”.  

During the Lunar New Year, Lion Dances can be found anywhere and everywhere—from temple courtyards to bustling city streets and even in private houses. All are welcome to gather and marvel at the lion’s festive performance.  

Malaysia and Singapore: Tossing Yusheng during Reunion Dinners 

Planning to visit Malaysia or Singapore for the Lunar New Year? You might notice families coming together to toss a unique salad, known as Yu Sheng, before their reunion dinners. During the 1960s, the practice grew in popularity amongst Chinese diasporas in Singapore and Malaysia and continues to be a staple at reunion dinners today.  

Inspired by the Cantonese tradition of having raw fish during the Lunar New Year, Yu Sheng is prepared with salmon slices, pickled ginger, pomelo, golden pillow crackers, as well as thinly sliced carrots and radishes, drizzled with flavourful sauces and topped with various condiments. Each ingredient symbolises a specific New Year’s wish, such as carrot slices for luck, and is individually added to the plate in a specific order. With all the ingredients in place, families begin the ritual of Lo Hei, enthusiastically tossing the Yu Sheng with their chopsticks while shouting wishes for abundance and good fortune in the New Year.  

It is believed that the person who tosses the Yu Sheng the highest will gain the most fortune. Hence, family members often try to outdo each other, leading to a messy but lively celebration. Following the Lo Hei, families distribute individual portions of Yusheng to represent the sharing of prosperity and blessings for the entire family in the New Year. 

South Korea: Performing Sebae for Your Elders 

The Korean Lunar New Year, or Seollal, is a special time for South Koreans to visit friends and family. One central custom of the celebration is performing Sebae for one’s elders.  

Clad in traditional Korean attire, known as Hanbok, individuals perform a deep bow to their elders, kneeling with their hands on the ground and their heads lowered as a sign of reverence and respect. While bowing, it is customary for youth to share well wishes and blessings with their elders, such as “Saehae bok mani badeuseyo” which expresses hope for a prosperous New Year. Elders typically show their gratitude by rewarding youths with envelopes of money, rice cakes and fresh fruit.  

Heavily influenced by Confucian values, performing Sebae is regarded as the utmost display of respect for one’s elders. The gesture embodies deeply rooted South Korean values of filial piety, family unity and reverence for one’s elders. 

Tibet: Eating Guthuk before New Year’s Eve 

If you're enjoying Thukpa Bhatuk before Losar, the Tibetan Lunar New Year, don’t be surprised if you find a dumpling filled with coal in your bowl! A staple in Tibetan cuisine, Thukpa Bhatuk is a hearty noodle soup that typically includes vegetables, beans, dumplings and meat. Unlike Yu Sheng, it is not limited to Lunar New Year celebrations and can be enjoyed all year long.  

However, on the night before Losar’s Eve, known as Nyi-Shu-Gu, Tibetan families gather to share a special version of the soup called Guthuk. This variation features nine main ingredients, including meat, radish, and dried cheese, along with a surprising twist: an extra-large dumpling. This special dumpling can contain anything from rice or spicy chillies to unexpected items like coal or wool. Served randomly inside a bowl of Guthuk, its large size makes it easy to recognise, signalling family members not to eat it.  

The item found inside one’s dumpling is thought to reflect upon their personality— coal might mean a bad temper, chillies suggest a talkative nature, rice symbolizes prosperity and wool represents kindness. The meanings of these objects can vary by region but are always meant to be taken in good humour. For many Tibetans, Guthuk is more than just a meal; it’s a fun and light-hearted way to usher in the New Year with family. 

Vietnam: Playing bầu cua cá cọp with Friends and Family 

No Lunar New Year is complete without a few festive games. Bầu cua cá cọp, which translates to “gourd, crab, shrimp, fish,” is a traditional Vietnamese gambling game closely linked to Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Like many Asian cultures, Vietnamese youths receive envelopes of money from their elders during the Lunar New Year, which they often use to try their luck in games like Bầu cua cá cọp.  

The game consists of a board displaying various items and three dice marked with the same symbols. Players place wagers on specific pictures on the board before a banker, or dealer rolls the three dice. If the dice reveal their chosen symbols, then the players win. However, the amount won is determined by how many dice correspond with the animals they bet on. If a single die matches the player's bet, they win an amount equal to their wager. If two dice show the chosen symbol, the payout is doubled. A match on all three dice results in a triple payout.  

According to legend, Bầu cua cá cọp was created by Northern Vietnamese rice farmers as they waited for the harvest season to begin. Today, it remains a beloved Lunar New Year tradition in many Vietnamese households.  

Across Asia, the Lunar New Year is marked by diverse traditions that showcase each culture’s rich heritage, history and values. Whether through unique performances, symbolic meals or sincere gestures of respect, these customs foster a shared sense of community and cultural identity. Hence, they continue to bring millions of people together every Lunar New Year.