Witchcraft and the Lunar New Year
One of the best things about living with my partner are the conversations we have when we’re tipsy. One night this past December, we were talking about New Years resolutions and I was taking about doing my tarot year-ahead spread when Kyle asked me if most modern witches focus on the moon so much in their craft, why don’t they follow the Lunar New Year? I had never thought about that before.
For most witches who follow the Celtic Wheel of the Year, the sabbet of Samhain (October 31st) is traditionally the Witches New Year and many do their year-ahead tarot spreads and New Years resolutions on this date. Even though I celebrate the eight sabbets, I still celebrate New Years on January 1st. Maybe that is just what has been ingrained into me, but Samhain never felt like a New Years. It felt like an ending, a closing. I often try to wrap up my old year around this time so I’m not stressed and rushing for the last two months.
There are many New Years for different cultures and religions and witches are free to pick when they celebrate the start of a new 365 days. Or you can choose to celebrate a few, each one symbolizing something different like I do.
My family has always celebrated the Lunar New Year in our own way and have always known our Chinese zodiac. This year will be the Year of the Ox (Kyle’s zodiac). For those who don’t know, there are twelve animal zodiacs in the Chinese Lunar calendar. In order; Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Boar. If you go look up yours, you will also find personality traits associated with each one. Just remember to check when the Lunar New Year was the year you were born because it might change what zodiac you are. My Dad thought he was a Dog because he was born the same year as my Mom, but as his birthday is the first week of January and the Lunar New Year is end of January/early February, it actually makes him a Rooster.
Some traditional ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year are to clean your whole house beforehand to get rid of any bad spirits or energies from the old year, spend time with family (or friends) and give out red envelopes of money or chocolate coins. Red is the color of luck so if you are a witch wanting to celebrate this New Year, have that be the color of your alter and maybe add an effigy of your zodiac or the one of the coming year.
As with everything, as long as you try to respect the culture it came from, you are free to celebrate any holiday or practice any tradition. That goes for both witches and other people who want to dip into another culture’s practices. Do your research beforehand. Talk to someone of that culture and learn how they practice or celebrate. It is okay to explore other cultures and let their traditions blend into yours as long as you treat it with the respect it deserves.
Especially in America, we are a blend of many different cultures and traditions. Modern witchcraft has become that as well so make sure you know where the practices you do come from. It will make you feel more connected to your craft and those that came before you. There’s nothing quite like having a spiritual practice that touches on so many different cultures and religions.
