The Chinese New Year is internationalized, and the English name of the New Year is challenged
One in five people worldwide celebrate Chinese New Year, a traditional festival that transcends borders and has become a symbol of multiculturalism. The Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China, but around the world, it is also celebrated by Chinese communities in other Asian countries, such as South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Lunar New Year is not only a traditional festival, but also an inclusive holiday, as it is celebrated by many Asian cultures, as well as traditional Asian cultures in Australia and around the world.
For Asian-Australians, celebrating in the name of the Lunar New Year is an opportunity to bring everyone together and promote greater cross-cultural understanding. ”
Switching to Lunar New Year helps break down cultural barriers and strengthen mutual trust and respect between Asian-Australians, international students and newcomers to Asia. In recent years, as people around the world celebrate the holiday, long-standing debates about the use of "Chinese new year" and "lunar new year" have been ignited, and some brands and celebrities have been criticized for using these two phrases.
However, the use of "Lunar New Year" has likewise caused controversy among Chinese critics, with many arguing that the festival has its roots in China's lunisolar calendar and China's historical influence on countries in the region.
This has left many brands and public figures in a dilemma, trying to navigate the holidays carefully to avoid being reprimanded by either party – but often unsuccessfully.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has wished Vietnamese and Korean communities the New Year in Chinese, but most "foreigners" are still accustomed to calling the Spring Festival Chinese new year.
Although the Spring Festival is being accepted by more and more people, its deep cultural heritage, folk customs, historical origins, and widespread circulation all prove that it is an inherent festival in China.
Therefore, we believe that it will be a difficult task for some Asian countries such as South Korea to try to challenge the "patent rights" of the Chinese New Year.