New York, NY – February 12, 2021 marks the beginning of The Year of the Ox, the Asian Lunar New Year, one of the largest and most festive celebrations for the Asian American Community. The Year of the Ox lasts until January 31, 2022.
Celebrated by Asian American groups including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean Americans, the Lunar New Year is an event where family and friends come together to wish each other happiness and pay respect to ancestors. Traditionally, the festivities start 22 days prior to the New Year and continue for 15 days afterwards. The Lunar New Year is represented by a cycle of 12 years, each denoted by a different animal.
This year, the Year of the Ox, is the second animal in the Chinese horoscope. According to Chinese astrology, people born in the Year of the Ox (1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2010, 2021) are known for diligence, dependability, strength and determination. According to tradition, Chinese and Vietnamese give children “red-envelopes” with good luck money for the New Year and Koreans offer newly minted money as a symbol of auspicious and fortuitous beginnings. Business people in the Asian communities also celebrate the holiday with colleagues and employees. During this celebration decorations are also significant. Red and gold are the primary colors as they symbolize good fortune.
Many companies take this occasion to send New Year’s greetings with advertising created for the holiday.
Visit multicultural.com’s Asian American Market page to see examples of these ad campaigns. Currently featured: Lunar New Year 2021 Advertising from Admerasia for Citi, State Farm and Hennessy.
Here are some fun Year of the Ox Facts:
Year of the Ox: February 12, 2021 – January 31, 2022
Who Celebrates: Chinese-Americans, Vietnamese-Americans, Korean-Americans
Lunar New Year Translation: “Chuen Jie” (Spring Festival) in Chinese, “Tet Nguyen Dan” in Vietnamese and “Sol” in Korean
Animal Symbol: Ox
Ox Years: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Famous People Born in Year of the Ox: Barack Obama, Lisa Ling, Vincent Van Gogh, Walt Disney, Charlie Chaplin, Gary Locke, Gerald Ford, George Clooney, Richard Gere, Dustin Hoffman, Princess Diana, Vera Wang, Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Paul Newman, Margaret Thatcher, Morgan Freeman, Jane Fonda, Jim Carrey
The Ox is: honest, earnest, diligent, dependable, strong, determined, kind, reliable and trustworthy, calm and gentle, fair and conscientious, inspiring confidence in others, patient, methodical and can be trusted
Best Careers for Those Born In the Year of the Ox: doctors, lawyers, businessmen and teachers
About the Ox: Oxen are honest and earnest. They are low key and never look for praise or to be the center of attention. This often hides their talent, but they’ll gain recognition through their hard work.
“Happy New Year:”
– in Chinese (Cantonese): Gong Hay Fat Choy (Wishing you get rich)
– in Chinese (Mandarin): Xiànnián kuàilè (Happy New Year)
– in Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Nam Moi (Happy New Year)
– in Korean: Sae Hae Bok Man Ie Ba Due Se Yo (In the New Year, (may you) receive much luck)
Next Lunar New Year: Year of the Tiger, beginning February 1, 2022
Contact: Lisa Skriloff, President, Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc., Lisa@multicultural.com, 212-242-3351 
