Feb 12, 2021
Lunar New Year 2021 (Multiple Countries)
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle celebrates the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar—officially starting the Year of the Ox! Lunar New Year, also referred to as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, is a time to honor ancestors and look forward to prosperity in the year ahead.
This Lunar New Year marks the official transition out of the Year of the Rat–believed to be one of constant change–and into the Year of the Ox, which is traditionally associated with things moving at a more slow and steady pace. The ox is the second animal of the Chinese zodiac and symbolizes hard work, positivity, and fertile harvest.
Throughout most of Asia and around the world, the lunar new year is warmly welcomed with traditional foods such as yú (fish), nian gao (new year cake), and tang yuan (sweet rice ball). Also, as depicted in today’s Doodle artwork, Lunar New Year is often celebrated with lively lion dances. The lion symbolizes power and wisdom, and the spirited dance is performed during numerous Chinese and other Asian cultural and religious festivals to bring good luck and fortune.
So take this year by the horns—here’s to this next lunar cycle being as strong as an ox!
Happy Lunar New Year! Head to Search to join in the festivities and welcome the Year of the Ox with a bang!
Early concepts and sketches of the Doodle by Sophie Diao
Where this Doodle appeared
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