It’s not a “Chinese” New Year. Get a grip.

Why the fuck do we keep calling it the “Chinese” New Year?
Because it caught on? Because CNN said it, and then some Western travel vlogger in Bangkok repeated it?

It didn’t “catch on.” It was pushed.
Through decades of Chinese economic dominance, through the West’s colonial perspective, and through the typical informational laziness of people who can’t be bothered to check that the same New Year is celebrated in Vietnam, Korea, Mongolia, and across many diasporas throughout Asia.
The lunar calendar wasn’t invented by China – it was developed in parallel across the region.
Vietnam has celebrated Tết since the Lý dynasty – for over a thousand years – it’s a holiday with its own rituals, traditions, dishes, culture.
Korea had Seollal long before China started imposing its version of culture on its neighbors – with its own clothes, games, food, and spirituality.
In China, it’s Chūnjié – their version of the same holiday.
But of course, the West saw red lanterns, a dragon, and dumplings and decided to slap on a label: “Chinese New Year.”

It’s like calling Easter “American Egg Sunday” because you saw a meme from the US.
Sounds fucking dumb? Exactly.

But no – of course the West decided that if something looks Asian, it can be thrown into one pot and labeled however they like. Preferably in all caps: Chinese New Year.

And suddenly, hundreds of millions of people celebrating Tết or Seollal are told they’re having a “Chinese New Year.”
Well fucking done.

It’s the exact same level of ignorance as calling all Asians “Chinese.”
No, not everyone from Vietnam is a “Chinese-looking guy.”
No, not every girl from Korea is a “Chinese girl with makeup.”
And no, fuck no, it is not the Chinese New Year.

It’s the LUNAR New Year.
Just like the lunar calendar doesn’t belong to any one country, this holiday isn’t a Chinese monopoly either.

But don’t worry. I don’t expect the internet expert on everything to understand that.
Too much effort. You’d have to actually think.