Scrutable

I notice Joe Biden's tweet and the mouseover text on today's Google Doodle Are we not calling it Chinese New Year any more? I have to say I didn't get the memo

I guess calling it Chinese is rather exclusionary of the Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese people, of which there are quite a few in the USA.

They made up for dropping "Chinese" from the name by giving the ox racist stereotype eyes. So that balances it up.

Happy Losar 2021,
The Year of the Iron Ox
https://www.bonshenling.org/losar-2021/

From what I've read/seen it is because it's not just the Chinese who celebrate it. It's also Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Tibet, South Korea and the Philippines. Possibly some others.

Martin Y wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 10:05 pm They made up for dropping "Chinese" from the name by giving the ox racist stereotype eyes. So that balances it up.

I thought it was meant to represent Biden. He seems to be permanently squinting.

Tessa K wrote: Sat Feb 13, 2021 8:18 am From what I've read/seen it is because it's not just the Chinese who celebrate it. It's also Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Tibet, South Korea and the Philippines. Possibly some others.

Yes, that's true, but it was true last year as well, and I don't recall seeing it called the "lunar new year" before.

I kind of wondered whether it was because the Trump use of the phrase "China Virus" has made people over sensitive to using "China" as an adjective.

Tessa K wrote: Sat Feb 13, 2021 8:18 am From what I've read/seen it is because it's not just the Chinese who celebrate it. It's also Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Tibet, South Korea and the Philippines. Possibly some others.

I was in Philippines over the Chinese New year in 2016. The referred to it as Chinese New Year, not Lunar New Year. It wasn't a big deal, but there was some pressure to acknowledge it.

"Why should we celebrate Chinese New Year? We're not Chinese."

Herainestold wrote: Sun Feb 14, 2021 4:14 am

Tessa K wrote: Sat Feb 13, 2021 8:18 am From what I've read/seen it is because it's not just the Chinese who celebrate it. It's also Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Tibet, South Korea and the Philippines. Possibly some others.

I was in Philippines over the Chinese New year in 2016. The referred to it as Chinese New Year, not Lunar New Year. It wasn't a big deal, but there was some pressure to acknowledge it.

"Why should we celebrate Chinese New Year? We're not Chinese."

In Thailand they mostly call it Chinese New Year too, though I have seen a couple of people call it Lunar New Year, and they dress up in traditional Chines clothes etc. to celebrate it. See e.g. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/pr ... 1-campaign

Edit: This isn't just a translation thing either. They call it something amounting to Chinese New Year in Thai too.

Herainestold wrote: Sun Feb 14, 2021 4:14 am "Why should we celebrate Chinese New Year? We're not Chinese."

For the same reason you might celebrate Christmas even if you're not Christian - it's as good an excuse as any for festivities.

jaap wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:49 pm I guess calling it Chinese is rather exclusionary of the Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese people, of which there are quite a few in the USA.

Not at all, it's called Chinese because it's based on a calendar that originated in China. Is it suddenly necessary to do away with that historical connection?

It's about time we renamed Arabic numerals, etc. etc.

I can see both sides of the argument. If it originated in China, why not call it Chinese New Year, especially if people from other Asian countries call it that. On the other hand, Western imperialism, racism etc etc so err on the side of caution and inclusivity. Maybe it depends where you're standing, ethnically and geographically speaking.

Millennie Al wrote: Sun Feb 14, 2021 6:55 am

Herainestold wrote: Sun Feb 14, 2021 4:14 am "Why should we celebrate Chinese New Year? We're not Chinese."

For the same reason you might celebrate Christmas even if you're not Christian - it's as good an excuse as any for festivities.

Tell it to the Filipinos. They weren't too enthused about it.