Categories: Culture

Google Welcomes Lunar New Year 2023 With Year of the Rabbit Doodle

Google

Sunday marks the beginning of a new year — the Lunar New Year.

On this day, also known as the Chinese New Year, we bid farewell to the Year of the Tiger and welcome the Year of the Rabbit. Referred to as the Spring Festival in China, the holiday is traditionally a time to honor deities and ancestors.

Joining in the celebration of the new lunar year, Google created a Doodle that welcomes the Year of the Rabbit, the fourth animal in the 12-animal zodiac. In Asian cultures, the rabbit symbolizes grace, beauty, mercy and good luck. The Doodle artwork is crafted from paper to honor the Chinese paper-cutting Jianzhi, which dates back tot he second century.

One popular legend dating back thousands of years holds that a mythical beast would emerge at the beginning of the year from under the Earth and terrorize villagers. Since the beast, Nian (Chinese for “year”), was afraid of bright lights, loud noises and the color red, they were used to exile the beast.

While the new year is typically associated with a fresh start in many cultures, the Lunar New Year is seen as a time of reunion and rebirth, marking the end of winter and the start of spring. Unlike holidays tied to the solar Gregorian calendar, the traditional Chinese calendar marks the days of the year through the ancient lunisolar Chinese calendar system, which bases months on the moon’s phases.

Homes are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away old ill fortune to make room for coming good luck, and fireworks are set off to ward off evil monsters and bad luck. The festivities typically last about two weeks, kicking off with a nighttime parade featuring floats, dragons, dancers and musicians.

Google is also joining in celebration by planting a search Easter egg that sets off a fireworks display on its results page when you search for terms related to the Lunar New Year, including Year of the Rabbit.

You can wish someone a happy Chinese new year with the Cantonese greeting, “Gong hei fat choy.”

Our Favorite Google Doodles Through the Years


+46 more

See all photos

Share

Recent Posts

Mexican migrant Wisconsin judge accused of helping evade ICE faces domestic abuse charges; had been deported

close Video Buck Sexton: Everyone who thinks the law doesn't count needs to be put…

1 hour ago

Famed stunt pilot was in contact with control tower prior to fatal crash at Langley Air Force Base

close Video Famed stunt pilot was talking to air traffic controllers prior to fatal crash…

1 hour ago

ICE Denver arrests Tren de Aragua member with multiple criminal convictions

close Video Ex-New Mexico judge, wife arrested for allegedly harboring illegal Tren de Aragua member…

1 hour ago

Florida doorbell camera captures alligator up on hind legs, ‘knocking’ on door

close Video Alligator knocks on door at Florida home The uninvited visitor at the Lake…

1 hour ago

Judge temporarily blocks Trump order ending collective bargaining rights for most federal workers

A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump that…

2 hours ago

Retired NYPD officer attacked in teen ‘gang assault’ after confronting them for harassing cab driver: report

close Video Retired LAPD Lt. praises NYPD as global model for combating domestic terror Retired…

4 hours ago