Lunar New Year vs Chinese New Year
Are they the same? No, and they shouldn’t be used interchangeably.
The difference
Chinese New Year is specifically for Chinese people and them alone. Lunar New Year refers to all of the people and countries that celebrate this holiday including countries like Vietnam, Laos, and Korea.
A similar example is how all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares. Chinese New Year goes under the category of Lunar New Year but Lunar New Year is much broader than Chinese New Year.
When to use each
In general, I would recommend the use of Lunar New Year over Chinese New Year, especially from those not well versed in the holiday or culture. While a lot of overarching events are similar or have equivalents, there are differences between each country. If you’re just referring to the holiday and want to send out simple salutations like “Happy Lunar New Year!” (in the same way you would say “Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas!”) don’t use Chinese New Year.
Chinese New Year is acceptable if you are referring to a cultural practice specific to only China, though I would really do your research before being so bold as to claim only the Chinese do it.
Another thing is sometimes people refer to the Chinese Zodiac specifically, which can be acceptable because the zodiac is different from other countries. For instance, the Vietnamese Zodiac actually does not have a rabbit but instead has a cat. The zodiac and New Year are not equivalent, though the New Year does celebrate a change in the zodiac.
Why it matters
To stop spreading the harmful stereotype that all Asians are Chinese. It can be a microaggression and it’s ignorant. I know a lot of people don’t intentionally mean harm by it, but it does hurt. Especially in most instances where I see Chinese New Year used, people actually mean Lunar New Year. Other Asian people are valid and exist too.
