Editorial | Welcome recognition of Lunar New Year
- After much lobbying by China and other countries in Asia, the United Nations has finally declared a festivity observed by 2 billion people as a ‘floating’ holiday
The declaration of a new holiday is always popular, but the one recently announced by the United Nations is significant and long overdue.
A resolution passed by the UN General Assembly on December 22 established Lunar New Year as one of the organisation’s “floating” holidays. It is a welcome development.
In practical terms, this means UN staff can opt to take a break during the festivities and the body will try to avoid scheduling meetings at that time.
But it is also a recognition of Chinese and, more broadly, Asian culture, with the resolution noting the importance of the annual celebration.
The move follows a decade-long campaign by China’s mission and Chinese employees for the festival to be recognised. The United Nations noted that the absence of Lunar New Year from the holiday list had been a concern for Chinese staff. Other nations who celebrate the holiday backed the recognition.
A letter submitted in August, pushing for it, was signed by representatives of 12 countries, including China, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
